2. Enjoy First Friday at the science center
It's been 50 years since the starship Enterprise embarked on its never-ending mission, which doesn't even include the time dilation brought about by all that warp speed travel. The Saint Louis Science Center (5050 Oakland Avenue; www.slsc.org) celebrates five decades of trekkin' with First Friday: Star Trek Friday from 6 p.m. to midnight. You can (and should) meet astronaut Dr. Tom Jones, who will talk about what living and working in space is really like, take pictures with some Star Trek cosplayers, debate whether Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation is a person with UMSL's Technology Learning Center (they have robots to help you decide) and catch episodes of Star Trek (original Kirk flavor or new style Star Trek Picard) in the Omnimax Theater. There will also be a free screening of Star Trek (2009) at 10 p.m. Admission is free, but some activities require a small fee.
3. See a great action film at the Tivoli
Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke is one of the greatest action films ever made. Ashitaka is a young warrior who attempts to save his village from the depredations of an enraged boar god, only to learn too late that the boar god has been corrupted by an evil force. The force gets its claws in Ashitaka as well, and he journeys west to either find a cure or die in battle. Instead he finds San, a warrior princess who pals around with two supernatural wolves while attempting to destroy Iron Town, which pumps out pollution around the clock. But does Iron Town and its power-hungry ruler Lady Eboshi need destroying — or does it need to find a way to live in balance with nature? Princess Mononoke is a parable about the damage humanity has done to the natural world, but one with several thrilling battles and an engaging pair of heroes. And just wait until you see the Forest Spirit. Princess Mononoke is shown as part of the Reel Late series at midnight Friday and Saturday (September 2 and 3) at the Landmark Tivoli Theatre (6350 Delmar Boulevard, University City; www.landmarktheatres.com). Tickets are $8.
Turn the page for more three-day weekend fun.
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