This weekend, get out to one of St. Louis' best parks to get a large sampling of local food, drink and culture. Tower Grove plays host to the first monthly Food Truck Friday as well as the 19th annual St. Louis Pagan Picnic, while Forest Park holds down the St. Louis Brewers Heritage Festival. Plenty of other offerings in and around town exist, so get out there, eat, drink and be merry!
Friday (June 10):
Food truck Friday @ Tower Grove Park along Southwest Drive Give the mobile food trend a test drive by attending this new monthly event put on by the folks over at Sauce Magazine. Sample some eats from Pi On the Spot, Cha Cha Chow, Fats Pierre, Mangia Mobile, The Sweet Divine, Sarah's Cake Stop, Holy Crêpe, Falafelwich Wagon and Shell's Coastal Cuisine. Free entry. 4 to 8 p.m.
St. Louis Brewers Heritage Festival @ Central Fields of Forest Park Sip on 75 beers from more than fifteen local breweries. Proceeds from the fest are donated to Lift for Life, a nonprofit dedicated to helping children who live in the city of St. Louis to lead healthy, positive lifestyles. $30-35 entry fee per session includes commemorative glass and unlimited samplings. Friday, 7 to 11 p.m. and Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. or 7 to 11 p.m.
Saturday (June 11):
19th Annual St. Louis Pagan Picnic @ Tower Grove Park Four rituals, 25 workshops, eleven performances and 70 vendors including Tango Argentina Food and Sweet Meat Stix all add up to something sure to be interesting at this annual celebration. Free. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
French Heritage Festival @ Ste. Genevieve This annual town takeover celebrates 300 years of French culture in America, featuring music, dance, French cuisine and other refreshments, wine tasting, reenactments, promenades, lectures and French Colonial architecture tours. For more information, call 1-800-373-7007. Free entry. 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Cheese-Making Classes @ Merryl Winstein's Cheese Making Headquarters Merryl Winstein hosts two intensive all-day classes to help worthy learners how to harness the power of cheese. Saturday covers chevre, camembert, cheddar and Swiss cheeses, and Sunday covers bleu cheese, mozzarella, ricotta and kefalotyri. Register online here. Choose one day or both. $145 per person for one day or $280 for both. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Health Life Deals Coupon Class @ the Galleria Whole Foods Learn easy ways to save on your grocery bill by using simple tricks and tips to maximize savings. Receive a set of starter coupons for name brand and organic products. Register online by clicking here. $10. 10 a.m. to noon.
Grapes to Glass @ Stone Hill Winery Take a breather by heading out to Hermann for a VIP winery tour through the Norton Vineyard and a special barrel or new tank sampling of wine. Learn about the winery's history and wine-making process. Call Aimee Viehmann at 1-800-909-9463 ext. 21 for reservations. $25 per person. 2:45 p.m.
Sunday (June 12):
Queen's Cuisine Afternoon Tea @ The Map Room Two pots of loose-leaf tea are offered with an authentic three-course English meal including finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones topped with clotted cream and a sampling of freshly baked desserts. Make a reservation online by clicking here. $25 per person. 1 to 3 p.m.
Fundraiser for Joplin @ Robust Wine Bar Every Sunday in June, Robust hosts an event featuring "baubles, bottles, fashion and flights" to raise funds toward Joplin tornado relief. Enjoy forty percent off bottles, a silent auction by Daisy Clover Boutique, raffle prizes and wine flights for the cause. 4 to 9 p.m.
Vegan Brunch @ Black Bear Bakery Have your pick of more than a dozen brunch options including from-scratch buckwheat pancakes, biscuits and gravy, French toast, house-made fresh fruit cobbler with vegan yogurt and a savory bread pudding made with the bakery's from-scratch bread. $10 all-you-care-to-eat. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
