Tuesday, April 4
Coffee and Conversation with David Robertson
6 North Coffee Company, 2 N. Sarah (@ Laclede)
Free admission, all ages, 8:30-9:30 a.m., 314-371-1446, jefft@slso.org
If you're keen to get a preview of the 2006/07 season of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, or if you just want to get an up-close and personal view of how it's different with David Robertson, you're invited to join the man himself for coffee talk this morning. He'll give a brief overview of the new season and then answer questions. We'll start with, "David Robertson, what makes you so dreamy?" Or perhaps, "How have you bewitched us all?"
(Posted by Amanda)
Friday, April 7
Art Opening and Listening Party: "Typewriter" Tim Jordan
Baseline Gallery, 1110 Washington Ave.
Free, 6-9 p.m., jordantype@yahoo.com, www.typejordan.com
Tim Jordan is an interesting guy. Among other things, he's a visual artist, musician, certified massage therapist and autism specialist. As his nickname suggests, he also has a bit of a typewriter obsession and has used the many-keyed machines as musical instruments and sculptural elements. This event will feature Tim's paintings and drawings. In keeping with his multiple talents, it will also be a listening party for the impending release of "Stranger Than Fiction," his album that was produced by and features Steve Ewing, the front man for the Steve Ewing Band and The Urge. Plus, there will be free beer, courtesy of Schlafly.
(Posted by Brian)
Friday, April 7
Art Opening: Wiktor Szostalo and Agnieszka Gradzik
3rd Floor Gallery in Mossa Center, 1214 Washington Ave.
Free, all ages, 6-10 p.m., 314-241-1010, wszostalo@earthlink.net, www.treehuggerproject.com
In a world of change and upheaval, you can count on Wiktor Szostalo for, well, more change and upheaval, sometimes, but always interesting art! Szostalo and collaborator Gradzik have conceived a two-part project, and are setting out to be a neo-Dada, STL version of Christo and Jeanne-Claude, using phase one to raise public interest in and the funds for phase 2.
Phase one is tonight's opening of 2- and 3-D works presented downtown, including paintings, drawings, sculpture and prints; phase two is an environmental installation, The Tree Hugger Project, to be presented during the Jewel Box's annual Tulip Festival on April 15. Get on out there and turn some aesthetics on their heads!
(Posted by Amanda)
Saturday, April 8
Poetry Reading: Words on Purpose, featuring Allison Funk, Nan Sweet and Mary Troy
Soulard Coffee Garden, 910 Geyer Ave.
$5, all ages, 4 p.m., jpchan0495@sbcglobal.net
Number one, this is already a fantastic opportunity to hear three of the area's poetic luminaries: Allison Funk (from SIU-E), Nanora Sweet (St. Louis) and Mary Troy (MFA program director at UM-St. Louis). But even better, today's reading is a benefit for Women's Support and Community Services, the oldest and largest locally founded organization dedicated to helping survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. It's all part of the "Words on Purpose" project, an ad-hoc group of writers aiming to use their words for positive social action. Have a cappuccino for change!
(Posted by Amanda)
Friday, April 14
Art Opening: "Junk Science," by Bill Keaggy
Millstone Gallery at COCA, 524 Trinity Ave.
Free, all ages, 6-8 p.m., 314-725-6555, www.cocastl.org
We are fans of Bill Keaggy: we like his crazy grocery list collection, and we like that he makes up lil' random projects to keep himself busy (see: everything else at keaggy.com.) So, we suspect there'll be a lot to like at this latest conglomeration of his work, based on his career as a collector of and tinkerer with photography, ephemera and assorted trash. Here's a preview.
(Posted by Amanda)
Thursday, April 20
Forum: Ivory Perry and the Struggle for a Lead-Free St. Louis
Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar
Free, all ages, 7 p.m., 314-727-8554, www.gateway-greens.org
Ivory Perry has legendary status among local activists, not least for his work over the years to address the serious problem of lead prevalence and lead poisoning among some of our city's most vulnerable citizens. An array of local, state and federal problems now exist to deal with the problems, and tonight's forum will seek to uncover how effectively these are working together. Panelists include Dr. Daniel Berg, founder of Health and Environmental Justice, William Lacy Clay, U.S. Congressman for the First District, and George Lipsitz, of the Department of Black Studies at UC-Santa Barbara.
(Posted by Amanda)
Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23
Grand South Grand House Tour
Start at 3134 South Grand Ave.
$14 in advance / $16 day of tour, all ages, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., 314-773-2881, carajensen@sbcglobal.net, gsght.blogspot.com
House tours are a great way to get ideas for your own home or just marvel at others' domestic prowess. This is the Grand South Grand tour's thirteenth year, so you know they've got it down. It showcases the Compton Heights, Compton Hill Reservoir Square, Shaw, Tower Grove East and Tower Grove Heights neighborhoods. Tickets can be purchased online; at Gringo Jones Imports, Botanicals on the Park and the Garden Gate Gift Shop at the Missouri Botanical Garden; or over the phone by calling 314-773-4844. The proceeds from this year's tour will be used to create unified street markers for the Grand South Grand business district.
(Posted by Brian)
Sunday, April 23
The Art of Kites
Saint Louis Art Museum, One Fine Arts Drive in Forest Park
Free, all ages, noon-4 p.m., 314-721-0072, publicrelations@slam.org, www.slam.org
Go fly a kite! Does anyone even say that anymore, outside of the odd, 50-year-old "Peanuts" strip or something? Sigh...add that anachronistic phrase to the fact that some rockstar kid profiled in the new Rolling Stone said the first album he ever bought was Blink-182, and you have two of my first realizations that I'm getting way too old.
But I digress. You know what might bring me out of this funk? Going on a nature-themed scavenger hunt through the Art Museum's galleries and then heading out to Art Hill to make a kite and watch kite-flying demonstrations by the Gateway Kite Club. How lucky am I? That's exactly what today's event offers.
(Posted by Amanda)
Wednesday, April 26
Reading/Signing: Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
St. Louis Country Library HQ, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd.
Free, all ages, 7 p.m., 314-994-3300, http://www.slcl.lib.mo.us/
The gal known as "the Yarn Harlot," and author of the popular books "Yarn Harlot: The Secret Life of a Knitter" and "At Knit's End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much," brings her show (and, undoubtedly, her knitting) on the road for tonight's presentation. Pearl-McPhee's got a new book out, "Knitting Rules! The Yarn Harlot's Bag of Knitting Tricks." She'll read, sign (you can buy books there) and chat at a reception afterwards.
This much we can promise: there will be plenty o'KIPping. It might just make you want to hook up (oh, a little bone for the crochet crowd) with the Urban Knitters sometime soon...
(Posted by Amanda)
Thursday, April 27
Book Reading/Signing: Buzz Aldrin
Saint Louis Science Center, 5050 Oakland, CenterStage in the lower level of the main building
Free admission, all ages, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., 314-289-4400, www.slsc.org
Man, talk about second banana: Buzz Aldrin WALKED ON THE MOON, for Pete's sake...but after that publicity hog Neil Armstrong. Always the bridesmaid. But who's hogging CenterStage now (literally)? That's right, baby: the Buzz himself will be there, chatting with folks and autographing copies of his new children's book, "Reaching for the Moon." Neil who?
(Posted by Amanda)
Thursday, April 27-Sunday, April 30
Play: "Alma en Venta/Soul on Sale"
Sculpture Area Courtyard of Lewis Center, 721 Kingsland in U City
$12-$18, 8 p.m.Th-Sa/7 p.m. Su, 314-863-4999, upstreamtheater@sbcglobal.net, www.upstreamtheater.org
Local playwright Philip Boehm brings to the stage a tale of a Mexican-American painter in the throes of his own cultural and artistic identity crisis, in a production from Upstream Theater (whose own mission involves bringing international perspectives to the STL theater scene). With the current climate of debate over immigration issues, and local convergences including the "Chicano" exhibit at the Science Center and the deportation of a Latina activist, the play's content couldn't be more timely. Add in a musical score performed by Farshid Soltanshahi, and we're sold!
(Posted by Amanda)
Saturday, April 29
Community Art Sale
Hartford Coffee Company, 3974 Hartford
Free, all ages, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., james@hartfordcommunitycafe.com
Sometimes we think those devilishly clever folks behind Hartford Coffee Company are *really* just in this for the community-building: now co-owner James Fox has organized a grassroots art fair for local artists and artisans—with no charge to be a vendor!—all in the interest of supporting the scene. Look for some works by Fox himself, we bet.
Sheesh. Crazy hippies! (Look for me to be spending all my coffee money on art, instead.)
(Posted by Amanda)
Saturday, April 29
Theater: "Seven/24," presented by Tin Ceiling Productions
The Theater at St. John's, 5000 Washington Pl. in the CWE
$8, 8 p.m., 314-351-6652, tinceiling@gmail.com, www.tinceiling.org
We like their audacity: the Tin Ceiling collective keeps on keepin' on in its fifth annual production of seven ten-minute plays, all written/cast/directed/staged within 24 hours. This is so much more real than "reality" TV, kids, and the beauty is, who knows if it'll work until it's happening right there on stage? Artistic triumph or crash-and-burn—well, I think we call that drama. It's entirely the Lou, from conception to curtain, and for that, we give a standing ovation.
(Posted by Amanda)
Sunday, April 30
Free Candy!, with Amanda and Tom
Hartford Coffee Company, 3974 Hartford
Free, immature audiences only, 7 p.m., amanda@thecommonspace.org, www.freecandy.net
Hello? Is this thing on? Well, it's been a little spring break hiatus, but the live, non-broadcast show must go on! We'll have (a) leftover Easter candy (and if you've got Peeps you need to get rid of, bring 'em on!) (b) fascinating guests (c) the musical delight of Ryne Watts, from the incomparable Maplehood Rekkids (d) a celebration of Poetry Month, right here at the tail end (e) Amanda and Tom's ruminations on the sporting life (f) news from our incredible sponsors, 52nd City and The Time.
Honestly, when the list runs to (f) without getting weak, that's a damn good show, one you'd be flat-out stupid to miss. Don't be stupid!!
(Posted by Amanda)
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