Dare to Care

Ever since President Theodore Roosevelt went on that fated bear-hunting trip and people began to call stuffed bears "Teddy's" bears, these little guys have come a long way (a lot further, at least, than the canoodlin' poodles that Calvin Coolidge tried to popularize during his presidency). From Ruxpin to Build-A, from Paddington to Snuggle, loveable bears have been a sweet part of many young children's lives. But why should kids be the only ones to have a beary good time? Your bear appreciation didn't have to end when you began to read chapter books! To regain some of your cub-love, head to the third annual St. Louis Teddy Bear Show & Sale at the St. Louis Marriott West (660 Maryville Centre Drive). To kick off this show, you can participate in a free Teddy Bear Tea Party at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 24, at the Eugene Field House & St. Louis Toy Museum (634 South Broadway; 314-421-4689 or www.eugenefieldhouse.org); plus, on Friday evening at 8 p.m. back at the Marriott, you'll have the opportunity to bid on the cute little fellow pictured during the Teddy Bear Auction, which benefits the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Metro St. Louis. But the real fun comes on Saturday, March 25: That's when the show and sale go down at the Marriott from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Admission to this part of the event costs $1 to $6, but coming home with a new, snuggly friend is priceless. Visit www.abcunlimitedproductions.com or call 815-464-3470 for more information.
Fri., March 24; Sat., March 25