A few weeks ago, attentive readers will recall, the Night & Day team raved about how the Saint Louis Science Center (5050 Oakland Avenue; 314-289-4400 or www.slsc.org) offers Segway tours of Forest Park -- and how Segways are the transporters of the future. But some people just aren't ready for this kind of two-wheeled new world order; some people actually enjoy spending time on the other two-wheeled marvel, the bicycle. Who knew? Even though Night & Day is sure that very, very soon bicycles will be replaced by Segways, humans still keep buying bikes, and kids continue learning how to ride them, future be damned. And it's for these bikers that the Planetary Pedal Bicycle Ride exists. This free retro event begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Planetarium and includes a helmet-safety check, a five-mile bike ride, a program in the Orthwein StarBay and, most important, a telescope viewing. Maybe you can get a look at that new planet everybody's talking about -- yeah, that's right; there's not just nine of those puppies anymore! Live in the now (if you won't embrace the future)! The viewing happens from dusk to 10 p.m.; in case of inclement weather, call 314-289-4453 for cancellation information. And to register for the ride, call the center at 314-286-4634. -- Alison Sieloff
Stomp 'Em!
The grapes won't stomp themselves
SAT 8/13
Until recently, a good old-fashioned stomp did not refer to exuberant folks making trash cans, brooms and bananas (!) into instruments of percussion. It meant climbing barefoot into a wooden barrel and using your footsies to press wine grapes. This original version of the stomp is still used at Stone Hill Winery (1110 Stone Hill Highway, Hermann) to celebrate the beginning of the grape harvest. If you fancy a dip, bring $3 and arrive early -- the line to register forms around 8 a.m., and only 90 participants are accepted for the 1 p.m. Great Stone Hill Grape Stomp. Or bring $2 just to watch and cheer the stompers to victory. A portion of the proceeds benefits the River Bluff Industries charity. For more information visit www.stonehillwinery.com or call 800-909-9463.-- Amy Helms
Turf War
Rams vs. Bears
FRI 8/12
Of the four major North American sports (Football, Darts, Competitive Drinking and Amish Rake Fighting), Football is the game that inspires the most hyperbole from devotees. Shouting, full-body painting, war-metaphor spouting and team-logo tattooing are exhibited by both casual fans and grizzled veterans of many a winter campaign (see? War metaphor, right there). And so, even though it is but the midpoint of August and we have yet to feel the crisp bite of an autumn morn, it is time for Football to rouse passion in the hearts and loins of fans once again. All right, so it's just preseason football, and the first-stringers are going to play, like, seven minutes combined, but that doesn't really matter. It's football, baby, and you go to war with the team you have, not the team you wish you had, as Terry Bradshaw once noted. Or something like that. Anyway, the Rams take the field at the Edward Jones Dome (Broadway and Washington Avenue; www.stlouisrams.com) at 7 p.m. to tangle with the Chicago Bears. Tickets are $44 to $85 and available through Ticketmaster by calling 314-241-1888. --Paul Friswold
Sedalia up, Partner
The Missouri State Fair is raging right now (Missouri State Fairgrounds, 2503 West 16th Street, Sedalia; www.mostatefair.com; $6 to $7 admission), and if you think it's all 4-H shows and butter sculpture, think again. The State Finals Rodeo kicks off at 7 p.m. Thursday and continues through Saturday (August 11 through 13). See homegrown cowboys and cowgirls ride 'em, rope 'em and brand 'em for $6 to $8 daily. And if you don't like to pay for your cowpunching, the MRCA Rodeo (1 p.m. on Saturday) is free. -- Paul Friswold
