Category: Life & Culture

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri has three Advocates selected as 2021 National Race Equity Fellows for Racial Justice Institute

Leaders to Join Network of Advocates Advancing Racial Justice Across the Country

St. Louis (May 6, 2021) – The Shriver Center on Poverty Law recently announced 47 Fellows, including Legal Services of Eastern Missouri’s staff members Earlene Bolton, Katherine Holley and Amanda Schneider, have been selected to take part in its 2021 Racial Justice Institute (RJI), a leadership program that equips and coordinates anti-poverty advocates to affirmatively advance racial equity.

“The past year has laid bare systemic inequities that many members of our community face daily,” said Dan Glazier, Legal Services Executive Director and General Counsel.  “We are gratified that Earlene, Katherine and Amanda have all been selected for this incredible opportunity to bolster our advocacy with the core principles of race equity.”

This year’s RJI Fellows include a diverse group of public interest lawyers, legal aid attorneys, community advocates, executive leaders, and even a judge. They come from 16 organizations advancing justice in 10 states, including 11 organizations new to the RJI.

“The COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis, combined with the racial reckoning during the past year, have exposed racial disparities experienced daily in the communities that anti-poverty advocates serve,” said Kimberly Merchant, Director of the Racial Justice Institute and Network. “The Racial Justice Institute equips these advocates to take a strategic, direct approach to eliminating racial disparities, dismantling barriers to opportunity, and strengthening communities of color.”

The 2021 Fellows come to the Racial Justice Institute with experience in a wide range of advocacy areas, including criminal justice reform, healthcare, second chance opportunities, economic justice, disability justice, immigrants’ rights, and affordable housing. Under the intensive seven-month RJI program that begins in May, the 2021 Fellows will be exposed to a core set of racial equity concepts that they can apply to the advocacy in which they are currently engaging.

“This year’s Fellows are working with communities facing many systemic challenges, including individuals experiencing discrimination in the criminal justice system, people with disabilities facing intersectional issues and discrimination, and families of color harmed by the child welfare system,” said Janerick Holmes, Associate Director of the Racial Justice Institute and Network. “RJI will offer these Fellows a framework to contextualize structural racism, systems thinking, social cognition, and implicit bias that they can use to confront and impact racial disparities in the communities they serve.”

Earlene Bolton is the outreach coordinator for Legal Services’ Connecting Kids to Coverage program, and has expertise in Medicaid outreach and enrollment.  A staff attorney in Legal Services’ public benefits program, Katherine Holley has developed important community partnerships while conducting food stamp outreach to able-bodied adults.  Amanda Schneider manages Legal Services’ Health Justice Initiative/Education Justice Project, which works to address the root causes of inequities in health and education, and doing community outreach with a racial equity lens.

Together, Earlene, Kate and Amanda, with the support of the RJI program, hope to advance health equity in Missouri by increasing the enrollment of Black men—a group with historically low rates of health coverage—in Missouri’s Medicaid program.

Entering its eighth year, the Shriver Center’s Racial Justice Institute has cultivated nearly 300 advocates, representing over 90 organizations in 31 states and the District of Columbia. Fellows emerge from the program ready to help shape policies that support a more racially just society and continue to work in concert as part of the Shriver Center’s Racial Justice Institute Network.

The full list of the 2021 Fellows:

Afrasan Adams, Bay Area Legal Services
Alisa L. Anderson, Bet Tzedek Legal Services
Johanna Baumann, Bet Tzekdek Legal Services
Virginia Benzan, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
Earlene Bolton, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
Lisa Brody, Bay Area Legal Services
Calli Burnett, Bay Area Legal Services
Amanda Caldwell, Community Legal Services of Arizona
Daniela Cimo, Legal Services of Greater Miami
Iris Coloma-Gaines, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
Deborah Concepcion, Lone Star Legal Aid
Krisofer Cook, Legal Aid of North Carolina
Richard Crews, Human Services Campus
Prachi Dave, Public Defender Association
Sha’Tarria Davis, Legal Services of Greater Miami
Richard Diaz, Disability Rights California
Britni Eseller, Disability Rights California
Lili Graham, Disability Rights California
Eric Harris, Disability Rights California
Alicia Hill, Bay Area Legal Services
Katherine Holley, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
Yalonda Houston, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
Parsa Ijadi-Maghsoodi, Disability Rights California
Ashea Jones, Lone Star Legal Aid
Georgia Katsoulomitis, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
David Keenan, King County Superior Court
Saadiqa Kumanyika, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
Elizabeth Larin, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
April Lee, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
Lauren Lystrup, Disability Rights California
Jenna Miara, Bet Tzekek Legal Services
Lucia Mirande, Disability Rights California
Alexandra Narvaez, Legal Counsel for Youth and Children
Guerby Noel, Legal Services of Greater Miami
Tatiana Perez, Bet Tzedek Legal Services
Brian Reichart, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
Jeremy Rosen, Shriver Center on Poverty Law
Archie Roundtree Jr., Bet Tzedek Legal Services
Marcus Samuel, Shriver Center on Poverty Law
Amanda Schneider, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
Amy Schwabenlender, Human Services Campus
Eric Sirota, Shriver Center on Poverty Law
Jen Story, Legal Aid of North Carolina
Stephan Thomas, Consultant
NaTonia Trammell, Legal Aid of North Carolina
Korin Waltersdorf, Community Legal Services of Arizona
Audra Wilson, Shriver Center on Poverty Law

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Legal Services of Eastern Missouri has provided free civil legal help for low-income families for 65 years. In 2020, more than 30,000 people in 21 counties of eastern Missouri received services from four regional offices. For more information, please visit www.lsem.org.

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The Shriver Center on Poverty Law fights for economic and racial justice. Over our 50-year history, we have secured hundreds of victories with and for people living in poverty in Illinois and across the country. Today, we litigate, shape policy, and train and convene multi-state networks of lawyers, community leaders, and activists nationwide. Together, we are building a future where all people have equal dignity, respect, and power under the law. Join the fight at povertylaw.org.

JUSTICE FOR ALL BALL, SATURDAY FEBRUARY 29, 2020

JUSTICE FOR ALL BALL, SATURDAY FEBRUARY 29, 2020

Join Legal Services of Eastern Missouri for 30th Anniversary Event

ST. LOUIS – The 30th Anniversary Justice For All Ball will be held on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at the Ritz-Carlton in Clayton. The Justice For All Ball attracts more than 500 members of the legal community including Judges, Managing Partners, Senior Counsel and corporate counsel from the area’s largest firms and companies.

For the 30th Anniversary of the Justice For All Ball, Legal Services is returning to the Ritz-Carlton, the venue in 1991 for the first Justice For All Ball. In an additional nod to the 30th Anniversary, this year’s Honorary Chairs are Edna Mae Graham, who was the first Committee Chair in 1997, and Doreen Dodson who served as an Honorary Chair the same year.

The 2020 Leap-Year Day event features a classic cocktail party – black-tie optional – with gourmet banquet stations, an open bar, complimentary valet parking, a select silent auction and a variety of entertainers.

Paula Finlay (AT&T) and Priscilla Murray (Husch Blackwell) are the Ball Co-Chairs, with Tracy Tabb (Brown & James) as Auction Chair. Presenting Sponsorship is provided by Missouri Lawyers Weekly with Sustaining Sponsorship by Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Supporting Sponsorship by Emerson and Thompson Coburn, and Contributing Sponsorship provided by: Armstrong Teasdale; The Association of Corporate Counsel – St. Louis; Blitz, Bardgett & Deutsch, L.C.; Brown & James, P.C.; Capes Sokol; Dowd Bennett; Gray, Ritter & Graham, P.C.; Husch Blackwell LLP;  Newman Bronson & Wallis; Polsinelli PC; Stange Law Firm, PC; The Bar Plan Mutual Insurance Co.; and The Simon Law Firm, P.C.

Tickets are $250 per person with tables of ten available. Please visit www.lsem.org/justice-for-all-ball for more details or contact Louisa Gregory, Associate Director of Development at lmgregory@lsem.org or 314.256.8736.

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About Legal Services of Eastern Missouri: Legal Services of Eastern Missouri has provided free civil legal help for low-income families for 64 years. In 2018 more than 30,000 people in 21 counties of eastern Missouri received services from four regional offices. For more information, please visit www.lsem.org.

“Hoosiers” are Jerks + 6 Other Things About St. Louis That Outsiders Don’t Know

St. Louis welcomes a whopping 28.8 million tourists each year from across the U.S. and around the world, which is fantastic because it supports nearly 90,000 jobs — everything from hotel workers to taxi drivers to sign company installers like the folks at Landmark Signs (find them at landmarksignusa.com), and the list goes on. 

If you’re planning on paying a visit, then here are 7 interesting, unusual, and just plain wacky things about The Gateway to the West:

  1. If someone calls you a “Hoosier,” then they’re hurling an insult (even if you aren’t from Indiana).

The backstory on this one is (as expected) pretty weird. It goes like this: in the 1930s, a St. Louis-area brewery hired non-unionized workers from Indiana — who came to be hated and collectively known as “hoosiers.” Well, fast forward about 90 years, and the term is still used by locals in reference to anyone who is not well-liked, to put it mildly. 

  1. It’s not called Panera — it’s called the St. Louis Bread Company

If you’re looking to take your “carb cheat” day to the next level, then don’t ask the locals where the nearest Panera is located. Instead, refer to the chain’s original name: the St. Louis Bread Company. 

  1. When it comes to sports conversation, it’s fine to talk baseball, hockey, soccer, or basically any sport except professional football (college football is fine).

A few years ago, the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League packed their balls and helmets, and headed westward to Los Angeles. Understandably, this remains a real sore spot for both sports fans, and folks who love St. Louis and have plenty of civic pride. So, your best bet is to avoid the topic altogether. Oh, and while we’re talking sports etiquette: if you are fortunate enough to attend a baseball game to watch the beloved St. Louis Cardinals, then be prepared to seriously watch the game. It’s not a game, it’s a religion.

  1. There’s way more to do than visit the Gateway Arch.

Yes, you should definitely check out the famous St. Louis Gateway Arch. On a clear day, you’ll be able to see around 30 miles in every direction. But there’s plenty of other things to do, too. In fact, St. Louis is home to more free tourist attractions than any other city in the U.S. except for Washington D.C. For example, you’ll enjoy free entry to the zoo, the art museum, the history museum, and the science center. 

  1. Beer is ridiculously cheap.

Sometimes weird can be wonderful, and if you’re a beer lover than you’ll be overjoyed to discover $2-$3 beers across most bars in St. Louis. Enjoy (and drink responsibly!).

  1. Toasted ravioli is really a thing — and you’ll love it.

You love toast. You love ravioli. Well in St. Louis, you can bring those passions together in one delectable dish called (believe it or not) toasted ravioli. While you can find this all over the place, many foodies head to Mama’s on The Hill, which is St. Louis’ famous Italian district. Mangiamo!

  1. The cost of living is very reasonable for a large city.

According to Sperling’s Best Places, the cost of living in St. Louis is about 12% lower than the national average — and compared to some cities like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Boston, is significantly cheaper. Who knows? Maybe you’ll fall in love with St. Louis so much (or at least get addicted to toasted ravioli) that you’ll want to make it your new home. In addition to having more disposable income (for yet more toasted ravioli), you’ll have the right to call other people “hoosier” and fiercely root for the Cardinals and Blues. What’s not to love about that?

Special Olympics Missouri Launches “Drive It Home Raffle” for Opportunity to Win 2019 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport 4×4

Missouri Automobile Dealers Association and the Law Enforcement Torch Run are partners in statewide raffle that runs until Oct. 1, 2019 to support SOMO athletes

July 10, 2019 (St. Louis) – Special Olympics Missouri (SOMO) in partnership with the Missouri Automobile Dealers Association (MADA) and the Law Enforcement Torch Run recently announced the launch of its annual Drive It Home raffle where the winning recipient has an opportunity to win a 2019 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport 4×4 or $500. MADA donated the Jeep Wrangler.

Doug Smith, MADA president, said, “We value and are honored to partner with SOMO.  Their work is seen throughout the entire state and at every level to offer athletes of all ages the opportunity to build self-confidence, become healthier by being active and strong, and learning how to achieve personal goals.”

The goal for raffle sales this year is $150,000. Each individual raffle ticket costs $5.00 and can be purchased online, or from individuals, teams and organizations who have volunteered to sell tickets. All raffle tickets must be purchased by Oct. 1, 2019, and the grand prize giveaway is Oct. 19. To purchase tickets and learn more about the raffle, please click on the following link, https://somo.org/win

“All proceeds from the Drive It Home raffle ticket sales benefit more than 16,400 SOMO athletes who participate annually in statewide competitions, and activities. Fundraisers like this are critical to our success to offer the best programming and services available to Missourians with intellectual disabilities,” said Susan Stegeman, SOMO President and CEO.

A tornado hit Jefferson City, MO, on May 22 leaving extensive damage to the region. The Training for Life Campus incurred structural loss from the tornado forcing SOMO to close the facility, and subsequently cancel its 2019 State Summer Games. The organization plans to rebuild and will rely on community support from across the state, through promotions like the Drive it Home Raffle so that athletes have access to programs in their communities.   

“It is critical this year to achieve our fundraising goal since the Jefferson City-based SOMO Training for Life Campus was significantly damaged during the tornado last month that came through the area,” added Stegeman.

To track the progress of the 2019 Drive It Home raffle, please follow SOMO on Facebook,  https://www.facebook.com/specialolympicsmo/,  or Twitter, @SOMissouri.

Media Contact:

Kayla Hull, Digital Marketing Coordinator

Email: hull@somo.org

Phone: (573) 635-1660 

About Special Olympics Missouri

Special Olympics Missouri is a year-round program of sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. More than 16,400 athletes participate in 16 Olympic-type sports throughout the state.  Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, and experience joy as they participate in the sharing of gifts and friendship with their fellow athletes, their family and friends, and communities across Missouri. To learn more, please visit, http://somo.org.

Neighborhood Spotlight: Maryland Heights, Missouri

Maryland Heights, Missouri, The Perfect Example of a Suburb Embracing Business

St. Louis County is home to a plethora of suburbs. From Sunset Hills to Florissant, there are over one million residents living in the county. Though many of these St. Louis suburbs are very much like each other, each town features something unique and different. Whether it’s a historic district, an upscale shopping mall, great restaurants, or something outdoors, there’s plenty to do and see in St. Louis County. However, there’s one overlooked municipality in St. Louis County. Home to over 27,000 residents, boasting indoor and outdoor attractions, and featuring the headquarters of a massive multi-national corporation, Maryland Heights, Missouri in West St. Louis County is often overlooked. Though the suburb has embraced business unlike other municipalities, it doesn’t get the credit it deserves.


Suburban Business

Typically, suburbs aren’t the places in which you find massive multi-national corporations. Historically, residents of suburbs commute to larger urban areas or business districts to go to work. This is a trend that continues today. However, Maryland Heights is one exception. Maryland Heights is home to the offices of multiple massive corporations. Additionally, one multi-national tech company even has its headquarters in the city.

World Wide Technology, founded by David Steward, is headquartered in Maryland Heights in Westport Plaza. WWT reported $9.3 billion in revenue in 2016. WWT employs over 550 workers at its Maryland Heights location. Additionally, Edward Jones and Monsanto have offices in Maryland Heights, employing over 2,500 workers combined. These are just three of the dozen or some massive corporations with offices in the Maryland Heights area.

World Wide Technology (Image: WWT.com)

World Wide Technology (Image: WWT.com)

However, as previously noted, business isn’t the only thing that counts when it comes to a city. Food, drink, nightlife, quality of school districts, housing, and culture are just a few other benchmarks we use to gauge a city. Luckily for Maryland Heights, the city does well in all of those categories.

Living in Maryland Heights, MO

Maryland Heights is home to over 27,000 residents. Those 27,000 residents have easy access to multiple major roads and interstates meaning Maryland Heights is within minutes of St. Charles, the Central Corridor, and Downtown St. Louis. Maryland Heights features a wide array of restaurants and bars. Notable restaurants include Sushi Ai, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, and Charlie Gitto’s. If you’re looking for nightlife, visit the Westport Social, Hollywood Casino, or Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre.

Maryland Heights, MO (Image: Google Maps)

Maryland Heights, MO (Image: Google Maps)

The average household income in Maryland Heights is over $55,000 a year. Residents in Maryland Heights have access to both Parkway and Pattonville school districts, both districts are well-known and respected throughout the state of Missouri.

Residents of Maryland Heights are within reach of numerous outdoor attractions including Creve Coeur Park featuring a lake with kayak rentals. Additionally, Maryland Heights features St. Louis’ best ziplining experience at GoApe. A short drive can also get you to Forest Park, home to the St. Louis Science Center, Missouri History Museum, St. Louis Art Museum, and St. Louis Zoo.

Both booming business and a fantastic living experience are just part of what markets Maryland Heights such a fantastic suburb in the St. Louis Metro Area.

Summer Pests, How to Avoid Bees, Wasps, and Hornets

Tips from a Local Business on How to Avoid Summer Stingers

It’s that time of the year again!  You’re lounging poolside soaking up the summer sun when all of a sudden, you hear something out of your right ear.  The sound is so unnerving that your entire body begins to tense up.  You go into full combat mode.  The sound gradually increases in volume and now it’s also heard through your left ear.  You throw your entire body off the lounge chair and quickly turn around, a flip-flop in hand.  Sure enough, a wasp hovers aggressively above a plant adjacent to the lounge chair.  There’s nothing you can do but wait it out.  Unfortunately, when there’s one wasp, there’s usually a nest somewhere nearby.  For the remainder of your summer, you’re left to fend off these nasty summer stingers.

Okay, some maybe I’m just terrified of wasps but we’ve all been in a similar situation.  You’re out enjoying the summer sun when suddenly you’re confronted with an aggressive pest ready to defend its territory.  Unfortunately, unlike bees, wasps and hornets can sting multiple times and are very aggressive.  Not to mention all three pests pack a powerful stinger packed with venom.  Though we like to label these pests as a simple nuisance, they can actually cause injury.  All three pests can injure and even kill a person.  However, injury and death are very rare.  Still, it’s important to know if and when you have a problem with these summer stingers.  Here are some tips from a St. Louis-based exterminator to get you through your summer, sting free!

There’s Little You Can Do to Prevent Them

Less of a tip and more of a harsh realization, there’s actually very little you can do to prevent summertime stinging pests.  Unlike termites or ants, you can’t create a barrier that kills pests at the source.  You also can’t create decoy hives or nests or set traps.  Sure, you could just remove all pollinating plants from your yard and home but that would be absolutely insane.  There are, however, a few precautionary measures that can be taken to avoid welcoming stinging pests into your home.

Don’t Create a Foundation on Which Wasps Can Build a Home

You might not be aware of it, but the way in which you maintain and manage your home could be serving as an invitation to wasps and hornets.  Wasps and hornets love building nests in corners, under loose siding, near gutters, near patches of mud or dirt, and around leftover firewood.  To ensure you don’t send out an invitation to these summer stingers, make sure that you’re replacing damaged siding, cleaning out gutters, keeping your yard lush and green, and removing leftover firewood from the winter.

Don’t Open a Stinging Pest Buffet

Leaving leftover food exposed outside or improperly bagged in the trash can also serve as an invitation for wasps, bees, and hornets.  All three pests love sugary foods and will be quick to notice leftover food.  Always make sure you’re properly bagging or discarding food waste and ensure you aren’t leaving food out for extended periods of time.

Look for the First Signs of Infestation

Unfortunately, because there’s little that can be done to prevent stinging insects, the best thing to do is to keep an eye out for the first signs of an infestation.  If you’re not used to seeing bees, wasps, or hornets roam around your home and you begin to see an influx of these pests near your home, there’s probably a nest nearby.  Be sure to note any patterns that would indicate a possible location of a nest or hive.

FYI: Wasps, bees, and hornets will often attack in groups.  Children can be killed with 500 stings while the average adult can die after 1000 stings.  Wasp nests can reach 5,000 members at a time!

Another thing to note is possible nests and hives.  Bee hives are recognizable as are most wasp and hornets nests, however, there are more types of nests that the common paper or comb-based nests.  Wasps, such as the mud-dauber, build nests out of mud or dirt.  These nests are built on the side of homes or outdoor structures and look like balls or pockets of dry mud.  Never remove a nest or hive haphazardly.  It’s best to consult an expert, however, should you feel compelled to do it yourself, make sure to have a carefully created plan and the correct tools.

That’s About It!

Again, there’s little to do in the way of prevention.  However, there are multiple steps that can be taken to note the first signs of infestation.  Catching an infestation early can limit the amount of larva these pests can lay and will aid in the removal process.

 

Mick’s Exterminating
8491 Veterans Memorial Pkwy, O’Fallon, MO 63366
636-978-5700
http://www.micksexterminating.com/

Hear this Week – Special Edition: Live Music in St. Louis February 20 – 26

Live Music in St. Louis

A certain town down the river gets lots of Mardi Gras attention, but let us assure you, we have it happening here as well. Bands of Note Special Mardi Gras edition!

Monday, February 20 – But first, it’s Presidents’ Day, and Foam Venue is hosting Oddsoul & the Sound plus Kelly Tsaltas and Troubador Tom. Oddsoul “is a person, a band, a state of mind,” and the trio is fronted by Matt Klose and features terrific original songs influenced by blues, jazz, and country. Starts at 8:30, no cover.

Mardi Gras!

Friday, February 24thMayor’s Mardi Gras Ball! Party much at the Rotunda of St. Louis City Hall? Well you will tonight at this black-tie event. Local heroes Funky Butt Brass band and Feel Good Inc. light it up, and proceeds go to the Mardi Gras Foundation, which has made community grants to improve Soulard and downtown since 2003. $150, doors open at 7.

Saturday, February 25 –

  • Evangeline’s – The Panamaniacs with David Gomez – starts at 11 a.m.
  • Broadway Oyster Bar – The Scandaleros, Aaron Kamm & the One Drops, and out of Nashville, the Aquaducks. Starts at 8 a.m.
  • Hammerstone’s – Paul Bonn & the Bluesmen start at 1 p.m., and the John McVey takes over at 6 p.m.
  • Soulard Market Park –Find the Bud Light Party Centre tent where Rockstar DJs will be spinning danceable tunes. 9 a.m., $115 includes “nine hours of beer, beats, and beads.”
  • Social House – How does Country Gras sound? Rising country star Colt Ford plays this all-inclusive event that starts at 11 a.m. Ticket prices start at $55.

There’s so much more here – you can’t go wrong with Mardi Gras in St. Louis!

Sunday, February 26 – The Dark Room starts its Brunch Sessions featuring the Montez Coleman Band. Coleman leads the band from behind the drums playing jazz, smooth jazz, and fusion. The band plays covers and originals from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and the brunch goes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. No cover.

What the Locals Know: Friday, the 24th, there is a special evening celebrating the Future of Jazz at the Sheldon Concert Hall. It’ll feature Grammy nominated, 13-year-old prodigy Joey Alexander. It starts at 6 p.m. with spirits and entertainment by local jazz students, and ends with a cabaret with Denise Thimes at 10:30. It’s put on by JazzSTL.org, a nonprofit supporting local jazz. Cocktail attire! $300 for this great evening for a good cause.

Music Note of Note: Mardi Gras is a big deal here, and has been for a long time. The parade in our beloved Soulard neighborhood kicks off at 12 p.m. on Saturday the 25th. Live music is infused ! So go get some beads.

The post Hear this Week – Special Edition: Live Music in St. Louis February 20 – 26 appeared first on Explore St. Louis.

5 Things To Do This Weekend in St. Louis 2/17 – 2/19

Happy Friday! It’s time for another fun-filled weekend in St. Louis. If you are still pulling your plans together for the weekend, here are a few suggestions to help.

To Kill a Mockingbird | February 15 – March 5

The Rep brings the late Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel to the stage. Set in the deep South during the Depression, Mockingbird is told from the point of view of young Scout Finch, whose attorney father, Atticus, defends an unjustly accused black man in court—and in the process, challenges the entrenched, systemic racism in his community.

Beggin’ Pet Parade and Wiener Dog Derby | February 19

Grab your furry friends and join Mardi Gras Inc. for the world’s largest costumed pet parade – the 24th Beggin’ Pet Parade in Soulard!  Don’t miss the excitement of the Wiener Dog Derby. Parade begins at noon, Wiener Dog Derby at 2pm.

St. Louis Symphony Presents: Ben Folds | February 18

Top Billboard and folk rock sensation Ben Folds is back by popular demand after a sold-out performance in 2014 performing fan-favorites and orchestral arrangements with the STL Symphony. Hear this one-of-a-kind performance as “…Folds uses the STL Symphony to access his music’s subtleties and nuances” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) on the Powell Hall stage.

Capitol Sports President’s Day Classic Volleyball Tournament | February 18 – 20

Capitol Sports presents the President’s Day Classic which brings together more than 700 volleyball teams competing on more than 80 courts throughout the complex, including 24 courts on the floor of The Dome at America’s Center. You won’t want to miss any of the action as these top youth teams (ages 12-18) battle for supremacy right in the heart of downtown St. Louis.

2017 Saint Louis Chess Winter Invitational | February 16 – 21

This chess invitational brings together players from around the world to compete for cash prizes and the chance to earn Grandmaster and International Master titles.

Make sure to share your St. Louis photos with us using #ExploreStLouis, you could be featured on our social page here.  For more events, festivals and things to do in St. Louis, check out our events calendar.

The post 5 Things To Do This Weekend in St. Louis 2/17 – 2/19 appeared first on Explore St. Louis.

#ExploreStLouis Fan Photos from January

We’ve been asking our InstagramTwitter and Facebook fans to tag their St. Louis pics with #ExploreStLouis and the results have been amazing.  Visitors, Locals and everyone in between have cool stories to tell about St. Louis.  Take a look at some of our favorite photos from the past month! Tag your photos with #ExploreStLouis, and we might feature you in this space next month!

Pretty gnarly action shot this past weekend #gnarlsbarkley 📸@jayyedwards

A post shared by Chris Arnold (@heyarnold_1991) on

Busch Stadium look really nice all lit up at night #winterclassic #soundcheck

A post shared by Adam Cattel (@adamcattel) on

I hope someone looks at you the way @madisonatodd looks at seals 😆😘

A post shared by Kevin Tkach (@tictkach21) on

Circa 2014 💙🌥 #tb #stlouis #missouri #archives #arch #gatewayarch #downtown #skyporn #stlouisarch #architecture #nubes

A post shared by ॐPriscillaॐ (@cillatekilla) on

Well….not the greatest game but it was still fun!

A post shared by Brian Lyons-Wade (@___brianlyonswade___) on

Monkeying around at the City Museum 🐒

A post shared by Ashtin Bruere (@ashtinbruere) on

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Hear this Week – Live Music in St. Louis February 13 – February 19

Live Music in St. Louis 

The sheer variety of acts in St. Louis is outpaced only by the talent of the musicians who perform here. Get out this week and hear some of these Bands of Note:

Monday, February 13 – At the Shaved Duck, Dizzy Atmosphere plays from 5:30 to 8:30 while patrons dine on fine BBQ and soul food. This violin/guitar duo plays great jazz from Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli through the Latin jazz work of Carlos Jobim and Xavier Cugat. A treat. No cover.

Wednesday, February 15 – Leopold & His Fiction come play the Bootleg at Atomic Cowboy. The Detroit-born Daniel Leopold fronts the band, which is equally rooted in dingy garage punk and Motown’s pop-minded R&B. The group is hot enough to open for the likes of ZZ Top, so there ya go. Doors open at 7, $12.

Thursday, February 16 – Young M.A. has been rapping since age 9, and her debut single from last year, “Ooouuu,” peaked at number 19 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart (she also performed it at last year’s BET Hip Hop Awards. Catch this up-and-coming musical powerhouse at the Pageant. Doors open at 7, tickets are $50.

Friday, February 17 – Scrambled, with great versatility and energy, plays it all: bluegrass, blues, funk, reggae, country, and a little folk/Americana. Zach Hoock (standup bass), Britton Liefer (mandolin), and Ray Bieri (banjo and guitar) perform a feel-good show at Blueberry Hill’s Duck Room. Starts at 9, $8.

Sunday, February 19 – Halfway there? Livin’ on a prayer? Then get down to the Scottrade Center and catch the latest Bon Jovi tour, “This House Is Not for Sale.” True, Richie Sambora is no longer shredding for them, but word on the street is the band is better than ever. 7:30, tickets are $34 to $242 (and beyond for special packages).

What the Locals Know: Every Wednesday at the Broadway Oyster Bar, Sean Canan’s VooDoo Players take the stage and play their American roots music with a revolving cast of fantastic and fun local musicians. They mix it up occasionally genre-wise and are known to launch into a tribute to Bob Marley, for example. Starts at 8, no cover.

Music Note of Note: Celebrate Black History Month at our still new National Blues Museum, as it tells the story of the blues and African Americans’ contribution to music. On February 16, from 7 to 9pm, they present “Music Moved the Movement,” a conversation about the complexities, challenges, and triumphs of the civil rights movement and its relationship to music and American history.

The post Hear this Week – Live Music in St. Louis February 13 – February 19 appeared first on Explore St. Louis.