"The Grapevine," is a hodge-podge of news items that sprout up throughout the week. Look for The Grapevine each Wednesday. Send your news tips to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Paint By Number
If your family enjoys painting by number, Chesterfield Arts has a huge project for you. The public is invited to help paint a 500-foot floodwall in the Chesterfield Valley. The "Make Your Mark" paint-by-number mural event is Saturday, June 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the intersection of Edison Boulevard and Baxter Road in Chesterfield. The best part about this project: it's designed and led by a group of middle- and high-schoolers.

Great Press for a Great Park
Citygarden, the two-block downtown oasis of trees and plants, water and sculpture, has won one of the nation's most prestigious awards in urban planning, the Urban Land Institute Amanda Burden Urban Open Space Award.

"This is a really wonderful honor for the City of St. Louis and for the Gateway Foundation," said St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay in a written statement. "ULI chose Citygarden from among 48 applicants across the country. The decision will bring flattering and well-deserved national attention both to the garden and to the City of St. Louis."

As part of the award, the city also received $10,000. Citygarden is located at the intersection of Market Street and South 9th Street in downtown St. Louis.

The Magic House After Dark
The Magic House is excited to be approved to host evening events in their front yard, said Sara Kahre with The Magic House. Previously the Magic House had to end front yard events at 8 p.m. in the summer, but the Kirkwood City Council has approved an extension until 10 p.m. The Magic House does not have any specific night-time plans yet, Kahre said, but they are currently considering some future events.

The Magic House is a children's museum located at 516 S. Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood, Mo., 63122.

Joplin school officials said the greatest need is cash donations to provide assistance to their students. "I cannot even tell you how much we need that," said Kim Vann, communications director for Joplin Public Schools. The school district has a total enrollment of nearly 8,000 students, and nearly half of its student body lives in the affected area.

To participate, check with your child's school to see if it is organizing a fundraiser, or make a monetary donation directly to Joplin Public Schools. A special fund has been set up for tornado relief. Schools or families can make checks payable to Joplin Schools Tornado Relief Fund and mail to the attention of Kim Vann, Joplin Public Schools, North Middle School, 102 N. Gray Ave., Joplin, Mo., 64801. More details available at the DESE website.

Hang Ten
As the pools open this weekend, the only spot to hang ten in St. Louis will begin offering surfing and bodyboarding classes to beach bums. Splash City, in Collinsville, Ill., will offer classes on their simulated wave beginning the week of June 6. Classes are limited to those at least 4 feet tall.

Rollin' in the Donations
The Seventh Annual Walk Run 'n Roll for People of All Abilities achieved record-breaking numbers for both attendance and money raised. More than 1,500 people gathered in Creve Coeur Park on Saturday, May 7, and raised more than $164,000 for 10 St. Louis-area agencies that serve people with developmental disabilities.

O'Fallon Breaks Ground on Inclusive Playground
The City of O'Fallon and Unlimited Play, Inc., invite families to join in a fun-filled event featuring games, shows and more to celebrate the groundbreaking of the City's new, all-inclusive playground. The celebration will be held at the site in Westhoff Park from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 4, and will include the groundbreaking ceremony at 12:30 p.m.

"This unique playground will be a community asset for kids and their families, so we're marking this occasion with games, family shows, face painting, Child ID kits, a contest, the Great Bug Hunt, and prizes," said Cindy Springer, Director of Parks and Recreation. "We're still raising funds for the playground, so we'll be raffling off a 50-inch television set, too. Concessions also will be available for purchase."

Book Signing at Reading Habitat
The local author and the local illustrator of "The Earth, The Alphabet, and Me: 26 Small Ways Kids Can Make a Big Difference" will be signing their book and sharing an eco-friendly cardmaking craft on Saturday, May 28. Sisters Chris Pesout and Jennifer Donaldson will entertain young readers at the free event at Reading Habit(at), 6035 Telegraph Road, Oakville, Mo., 63129, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Citygarden photo by Jessica Pupillo.
Splash City "FlowRider" photo courtesy of the City of Collinsville, Ill.

Previous Grapevines
The Grapevine | May 18, 2011

Add Comment