This is a good weekend to make the drive to Alton, Illinois. On Saturday, July 31, 2010, the city is hosting a free block party. Everyone is invited to gather in downtown Alton for music, dancing, children's activities and more. Local restaurants will also be selling food and drinks.

The block party runs from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., along Third Street between Piasa and State Streets. The Phins will be performing on the Main Stage and Aaron Kamm & the One Drops will give a free concert on State Street. The Alton Block Party is just one of many free events in the St. Louis area. Here's information on other free summer events.

My wife and I went to The Muny with some friends on Saturday night to see Cats. I'll admit we hadn't been to a show there in quite a while. We used to have season tickets before the boys were born, but just don't get out that much anymore.

A night at the Muny is really a memorable experience and something everyone in St. Louis should do at least once. The productions are usually first rate and there's just something special about taking in a show outside in the middle of Forest Park.

But as anyone who's been knows, the outdoor part can also be an issue. At the start of the show Saturday, the temperature was still 90 degrees. Then about an hour into the show, the storms blew in. Heavy rain, wind, lightning.  So it turned out to be a memorable night, just not in the way we planned.

If you still want to see a musical at the Muny this summer, The Sound of Music is playing through August 1, and Footloose wraps up the season August 2 through 8. For ticket information, check out the Muny website, or you can always sit in the free seats.

I'm always looking for good, free activities for kids in St. Louis. Here's one offered by the World Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park. Each weekend, the WBS hosts Amazing Animal Encounters. The family-friendly, education programs use live snakes, parrots, birds and mammals to teach visitors about conservation and preserving animal habitats.

Amazing Animal Encounters are held each summer at the WBS Amphitheater from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Sessions are Saturdays at 11:30 a.m., and 2 p.m., and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. Admission and parking are free. No reservations are required. For more information check out the World Bird Sanctuary website.

The St. Louis Rams have a new mascot and you can help name it. The Rams have picked five possible names from more than 1,700 suggestions submitted by fans. The choices are: Archie, Rammer, Rampage, Ramsey and Rush. Perhaps, the last one is an homage to radio host Rush Limbaugh who tried to buy a stake in the team. You can vote for your favorite name at the Rams website. The new mascot will be introduced Monday, July 26, 2010, at the St. Louis Zoo.