Healthworks! Kids’ Museum gives a larger-than-life glimpse of the circulatory system with its new, 26-foot, inflatable MEGA Heart, an interactive display funded by the Jefferson Foundation and SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. It teaches cardiovascular health and how to prevent disease.

It takes a village to raise a child, and according to WalletHub, Wildwood is a top spot to do that. The personal finance website ranked the city No. 1 on its list of best places to raise a family in Missouri. The ranking is based on family activities, education, health, safety, affordability and other factors.

Jim Kirchherr, a familiar face on local public TV, recently was inducted into the St. Louis Media Hall of Fame. He joined the Nine Network in 1991 and currently serves as its senior director of content. Kirchherr has won 26 regional Emmy Awards and has worn a number of hats, including producer, writer and on-air host. Congratulations!


check it out

Herbs A to Z, a new book from the Missouri Botanical Garden and St. Louis Herb Society, gets kids thinking about cooking and working with natural ingredients. Illustrated by Morgan Hutcherson, a graphic designer at the Garden, it covers everything from parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme to lesser-known herbs.
Available at the Garden Gate Shop, Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House Gift Shop and mbgpress.org


the main events

Happy 25th birthday, Raja! Celebrate with the Saint Louis Zoo’s well-loved bull Asian elephant, the first to be born at our zoo. Sign his birthday card and watch him receive special treats and gifts at the River’s Edge at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 27.

Want to party like it’s the 18th century? The 1768 Twelfth Afternoon Ball at the Old Courthouse is a traditional celebration of the end of the 12 Days of Christmas and the approach of Mardi Gras. The ball begins at noon Jan. 6 and includes 1768-style music, food and dancing.

The St. Louis Food & Wine Experience returns Jan. 26 through 28, bringing more than 900 wines and culinary delights to The Chase Park Plaza Hotel. Presented by Schnuck Markets, the event benefits The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.