From the beginning of this crisis, Town&Style has strived to be a source of good news, helpful information and positivity. Since we all have to stay healthy and stable, we’ll provide ways to keep your mind active, body well and heart smiling! Together we are stronger. 

PLEASE NOTE: COVID-19 information is constantly evolving, so please check an organization’s website for the absolute latest information.

STAGES St. Louis announced changes to its 2020 performance schedule. A Chorus Line, Disney’s Alice in Wonderland and La Cage Aux Folles have been canceled. The season finale, Always … Patsy Cline, is still scheduled to run from Sept. 4 to Oct. 4. Subscribers will receive a letter about ticketing options, and the box office will be open for inquiries starting May 6. Call 314.821.2407 or visit stagesstlouis.org for information.

The Fabulous Fox Theatre announced rescheduling plans for two of its shows. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (originally planned for March) will take place Dec. 22 through 27, and Cats (originally planned for April) will be moved to a future season. Season ticket holders will be notified about their options, and refunds for other ticket holders will begin in April. Visit fabulousfox.com for more information.

SLIFF/Cinema St. Louis Presents FILM FESTIVAL DAY April 11: Film at 5 pm, Q&A at 7. Film festival audiences from across North America will join together for a virtual screening of the independent film PHOENIX, OREGON and filmmaker Q&A. Proceeds from tickets purchased will be split with Cinema St. Louis, which is participating in the first Film Festival Day with 29 other film festivals across the U.S.

ST. LOUIS AQUARIUM ESSAY CONTEST: The St. Louis Aquarium Foundation is holding a marine animal essay contest for students in grades K-12. Kids and teens are invited to submit a two-page, handwritten essay in response to a question designed for their age group. Two runners up in each group will win two free tickets to the St. Louis Wheel, and the winner will receive a pass for two free aquarium admissions, two free tickets to the St. Louis Wheel and a $10 gift card to the Aquarium Gift Shop.

Entries are due by April 13 and should be submitted by sending photos or scanned PDFs of the essays to info@stlaquariumfoundation.org using the subject line “Essay Contest – [student’s name] – Age [student’s age].” If the student is under 18, a parent or legal guardian must submit the entry, and doing so grants the St. Louis Aquarium Foundation permission to use the essay on its website, social media pages or for any publicity purposes. If pictures are included, they do not count as one of the written pages. Essays must be handwritten by the student in his or her own words, and they will be evaluated on skill in answering the question as well as grammar and spelling.

Essay Topics

  • Kindergarten-2nd Grade: If you could be a marine animal, which animal would you be and why? You may choose to include a drawing of your animal.
  • 3rd-5th Grade: What do you think is the coolest trait or adaptation of any animal in the ocean and why? You may choose to include a drawing of the animal with this trait.
  • 6th-8th Grade: If you had to live in the ocean and were able to borrow three adaptations from ocean animals, what three existing adaptations would you choose and why? You may choose to include a drawing of yourself with your new adaptations.
  • 9th-12th Grade: Plastic pollution in our waterways and oceans is a major conservation issue that is affecting the health of animals and our planet. What can you do to help reduce plastic pollution? Answers may be practical changes in your everyday habits or could include inventions or new processes to help prevent or reduce the problem. You may choose to include a drawing of your new invention.

READING TIME!

Forest Park: A Walk Through History by Carolyn Mueller: In these home-bound times, we’re all discovering how powerful just taking a walk can be. Carolyn Mueller takes readers through the main attractions and secret spots of Forest Park. After learning about its history and natural wonders, map your own route and explore the park’s more than 1,200 acres yourself! Available wherever books are sold.

Baseball in St. Louis: From Little Leagues to Major Leagues by Ed Wheatley: Missing the Cardinals right now? Local author and baseball player Ed Wheatley shares the unique role baseball has played in St. Louis and the impact the city has had on the sport. Available wherever books are sold April 1.

LOCAL FAVES:

  • City Museum: Staff are producing Facebook Live videos featuring art projects, stories, science experiments and virtual tours. Follow #CMOnAir, or check out the schedule at citymuseum.org.
  • Saint Louis Art Museum: The museum’s website offers Read, Watch and Listen sections where you can learn about the latest exhibitions and acquisitions, watch past performances and find audio guides of exhibitions. It also features highlights from SLAM’s 34,000 piece collection. For more information, visit slam.org.
  • Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park: Offering weekly virtual tours of the FLWHEP and other Wright sites, including Fallingwater, Unity Temple, Taliesin West and more. The FLWHEP also has launched several new programs to engage the public while the house is closed,  including FLWHEP Art Share and What We’re Reading social media features.  It has also added to its online educational resources for students of all ages.
  • Missouri Botanical Garden: Visit the garden’s YouTube channel for playlists on a variety of topics. Staff also is sharing videos and photos of the spring flowers in bloom and resources on home garden planning, or you can watch a live stream of construction of the new Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center, set to open in 2022. For more information, visit mobot.org.
  • World Bird Sanctuary: Handlers are posting daily Facebook Live videos about the birds. On April 4 and 5, the sanctuary plans to host a drive-thru bird safari. For more information, visit worldbirdsanctuary.org.
  • Contemporary Art Museum: Check out a series of interviews with artists from around the world about what they’re doing during the new coronavirus crisis. CAM also is sharing art activities to do at home. For more information, visit camstl.org.
  • International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum: Take a 360-degree, virtual tour of the museum’s new exhibition Masterworks: Highlights from the IPHF Collection, which features iconic images from the organization’s 55-year history. Members and active military members can access it for free, and admission is $5 for seniors and children and $10 for adults. The IPHF also will host its first virtual lecture, Chasing the Light with Jack Curran–A Fireside Chat, via Zoom on April 4 at 1:30 p.m. The lecture is $5 for members and $10 for non-members. For more information, visit iphf.org.
  • Missouri History Museum: Whether you need access to free educational resources or want to read quirky St. Louis history stories to pass the time, visit mohistory.org. You also can explore our digitized collections, start a research project, or take a virtual tour of our past exhibit, Panoramas of the City, all from home. The Missouri Historical Society is sharing inspirational stories from St. Louis history on social media using #UpliftingSTL.
    • Note from the museum: As we work to document this historic moment, we could use your help! Submit a story or photo to our new digital archive here so that future researchers, scientists, and historians will better understand the full impact of this historic moment through individual perspectives.
  • @cocaSTL: Infuse your day with creativity with Create Breaks.
  • @gcpaSTL: Tackle daily challenges and activities with Everyday GCPA.
  • @themagichouse: Tune into #MagicAtHome, an online series sharing fun activities to do at home with kids.
  • @aquariumSTL: Interactive animal time and fun activities on social media
  • @STLsciencecenter: Experiments and demonstrations to view from home on Instagram
  • The Saint Louis Zoo is sharing stories, videos and photos of animals through #BringTheSTLZooToYou.
  • Sweetology offers to-go decorating kits and online cake decorating classes.
  • STAGES St. Louis: Launching new streaming and digital educational content for any and all students. It will share podcasts discussing musical theatre, online video masterclasses, and workshops through ZOOM, Google Classroom content, and more. Check them out on FB and IG, or visit the website: stagesstlouis.org

EXERCISE:

  • TrueFusion STL: Offers a wide variety of daily virtual classes
  • Orangetheory Fitness Ladue: Shares personalized Orangetheory at Home workouts every morning at 10 a.m. on Instagram  
  • Pure Barre: Provides active members daily classes on Facebook Live
  • StephZ Cardio Dance: The local barre and dance instructor is doing live classes on Instagram. 
  • Life Time: Our favorite yoga, cardio and strength classes are currently available in a streaming format for you to try out while clubs are closed.