David's St. Louis Blog

July is a great month to visit the Missouri Botanical Garden. Admission is free on July 4, in honor of Independence Day, and on July 24, the anniversary of founder Henry Shaw's birthday. And, there's also the Whitaker Music Festival, a series of free concerts every Wednesday night until August 13.

This is the 14th year for the music festival, and it's bringing in bigger and better acts every year. Featured performers this year include blues singer Kim Massie and contemporary artist Javier Mendoza. Admission to the Garden is free on Wednesdays after 5 p.m., and the concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to bring lawn chairs, blankets and a picnic dinner and gather at the Cohen Amphitheater.

Whitaker Music Festival

July 9 - Javier Mendoza
July 16 - Kim Massie
July 23 - Poor People of Paris
July 30 - FolknBluesGrass
August 6 - Laytham and Holmes
August 13 - Alvin Jett & the Phat noiZ

For more ideas on what to do in St. Louis without spending money, read my Free Summer Events article.

(Javier Mendoza performs July 9. Photo courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden)

St. Louis has a lot to offer on July 4, but there's only one place where you can be part of an attempt to break a Guinness World Record. Organizers of the Rockin' the Landing celebration on Laclede's Landing need 5,000 people to help break the world record for the largest kazoo ensemble. You don't have to be an experienced kazooist (is there such a thing?) and you don't even need to have your own kazoo. They'll be passing them out at various venues throughout the Landing. The world record attempt is July 4 between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Rockin' the Landing also offers two days of music, including performances from The Well Hungarians, Earl and former American Idol contestant Nikko Smith.

Rockin' the Landing
July 4, noon - 7 p.m.
July 5, 1 p.m. - 9 p.m.

For more ideas on how to celebrate Independence Day in St. Louis, read my 4th of July Events article.

This summer, you can enjoy free movies at many different parks and outdoor locations throughout the St. Louis area. All you need is a blanket or lawn chair, then sit back and enjoy the show. The Frontyard Features movie series runs through the fall. All movies start just after sunset.

Live on the Levee is more than just five weekends of free downtown concerts. You'll want to eat too. But don't resign yourself to eating common fair food. Live on the Levee also offers a unique outdoor dining experience called The Sauce Cafe. Each Saturday night during the festival, a different local restaurant will serve a three-course meal designed to not only please patrons, but also to complement the musical act that night. For example, when the hit country band Lonestar plays on July 12, the Hwy. 61 Roadhouse and Kitchen will be there dishing out southern food favorites.

The menu for each week is below. Read more...

There's still plenty of time to check out the Dinoroarus exhibit at the St. Louis Zoo. The exhibit has been attracting crowds since it opened in April. The exhibit features 16 life-size, animated dinosaurs that move, roar and come to life right before your eyes. You can also learn about the connections between dinosaurs and other animals at the Zoo, and hear theories about why these great animals became extinct. The Dinoroarus exhibit is open at the River's Edge until September 1. Admission is free from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. each day. After that, it's $1.50 for Zoo members and $3 for non-members.

To plan your visit to the Zoo, check out my article Top 10 Things to See at the St. Louis Zoo.

(Photo by Carmody Photo, courtesy the St. Louis Zoo)

Great news for Bruce Springsteen fans! "The Boss" is coming to St. Louis later this summer. Springsteen and the E Street Band will play a concert at the Scottrade Center on Saturday, August 23. Tickets for the just announced show go on sale this Saturday, June 28, at 10 a.m. through ticketmaster. Springsteen is currently on tour in Europe where he's getting rave reviews for his performances.

(Photo by Ralph Orlowski, Getty Images)

Thousands are expected to gather in Tower Grove Park this weekend for the 29th annual PrideFest celebration. The festival is the year's largest event for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. It draws visitors from across the region and around the country. There are activities all weekend long including parades, live music, food and a commitment ceremony on Saturday afternoon.

PrideFest 2008
June 28 & 29
11 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Tower Grove Park

Celebrate St. Louis, the organization that puts on Fair St. Louis and Live on the Levee, announced yesterday that both events will be moved to Soldiers Memorial Plaza due to flooding. All the events and attractions (parade, fireworks, concerts) are still on, they’re just moving about 12 blocks west. Obviously, the downside is the events won’t benefit from the mystique of being under the Arch and on the riverfront. But on the plus side, they should be easier to get to and to find parking, and visitors will be further from the crowds and traffic surrounding Busch Stadium. And, Soldiers Plaza is large enough to handle both events; it easily handles the crowds for Rib America, Strassenfest and other concerts every year.

Soldiers Memorial Plaza is located between Tucker Boulevard and 15th Street, and Market and Olive (across from the Scottrade Center). There are four Metro stations within a short walk: Union Station, 8th and Pine, Stadium and Civic Center, which may mean less crowds at each station.

Check back for more updates, including recommendations on where to settle in for the best view of the fireworks, as well as revised details about dining at the Sauce Cafe.

You can enjoy an evening of free entertainment beginning this Friday at Laumeier Sculpture Park in St. Louis County. The Music and Movies series pairs performances from local musicians with classic movies like Grease and Top Gun. Read more...

Hermann may be famous for its wineries, but this weekend it's all about beer in the small town on the Missouri River. The first annual Rhythm and Brews Festival is your chance to sample 50 beers from breweries around the state. You can taste the latest creations from Boulevard, Schlafly, O'Fallon and many more. There's also BBQ and music from Pennsylvania Slim. The festival begins Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Tin Mill Brewing Company in Hermann. Tickets are $20 and are available at the door. Prost!

Rhythm and Brews Festival
Saturday, June 21
11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tin Mill Brewing Company, Hermann

(Image courtesy Tin Mill Brewing Company)