SAT 11/26
The Sheldon (3648 Washington Boulevard; 314-533-9900 or www.sheldonconcerthall.com) loves all of us — all St. Louisans, that is — very much. How can a building offer love? Why would the Sheldon love you (you did make fun of that poor kid on the school bus all those years ago)? And finally, how do we know it loves us?
While Ms. Day holds the answers to many questions, in this instance she is only able to answer the last query, and that's because it's an easy one: She is convinced the Sheldon Art Galleries love us because the powers that be over there have arranged for Bryan Young Catering Plus to provide some of the food for the third annual Winter Warming event. Yes! This shopping/fundraising extravaganza, held from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., is fun and heartwarming all on its own, but with Bryan Young's food, we may just have a heat stroke! Maybe the Master will serve ribs — like melted butter! Or perhaps Mr. Young will create something new just for us — oh, to be so lucky!
Of course, there will be other delicious food at the afternoon bash, thanks to places like Kitchen K, and the wine, port, Scotch and liqueurs will be flowing just as fast as they can be poured. But despite all the love, and food-love, happening at the Sheldon, don't forget there's shopping to be done! Check out great gifts like ornaments, artisan sweets, perfumes, handmade soaps and more, all for just buying a $35 ticket at 314-534-1111 or www.metrotix.com. Lovely! —Ms. Day
Give Thanks This Year
For Novak's!
WED 11/23
You could stay home the night before Thanksgiving and be enlisted in peeling your weight in potatoes, picking up Uncle Vernon from the airport and enduring the tale of his gallbladder surgery (again), or you could go to Novak's Bar & Grill (4121 Manchester Avenue) for its biggest party of the year. Thank goodness for Novak's! Start the night off with Singles Night Out — bring Uncle Vernon and enjoy the great drink specials from 6 to 9 p.m. Then at 9 p.m. the semifinals of Novak's Idol begin and are followed by karaoke and dancing until 2 a.m. Fun times! Plus, there's no cover! For more information about goings-on at Novak's, including Thanksgiving night's drag show and Friday's pub crawl, visit www.novaksbar.com or call 314-531-3699. — Amy Helms
Small-Town Dreams
What if St. Louis was crime- and litter-free, and the temperature was always a comfortable constant? Well, first of all, it wouldn't be St. Louis (especially with that wonderful, stable weather) — but it could be a miniature version of our delightful city as the Missouri Botanical Garden (4344 Shaw Boulevard; 314-577-9400 or www.mobot.org) proves with its Gardenland Express: Vintage St. Louis indoor display. See the flowery utopia for yourself as wee trains chug past tiny St. Louis landmarks every day beginning Wednesday, November 23; access to the special exhibit costs $2 to $3 in addition to regular garden admission ($1.50 to $7). — Alison Sieloff
If Walls Could Talk
The Campbell House tells all
SAT 11/26
You know all about the Campbell House Museum (1508 Locust Street) — the completely restored, beautiful nineteenth-century building nearly smack in the middle of downtown (in what used to be Lucas Place) — but what do you know about these people they call Campbell? How much do you know about their quite-fancy lives? Not much, we imagine. So head down to the old home from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for Nine Theatrical Sketches on the Lives and Letters of the Campbells of St. Louis presented every 30 minutes by Etc., a senior theater company. The mini-dramas, based mostly on Campbell family correspondence, are performed in nine different rooms of the house, so in addition to the living-history presentations, you get a little tour to boot. Mmm, mmm good. Tickets cost $15, and reservations are required; call 314-421-0325 for more information and to save your spot. — Alison Sieloff
