Not totally satisfied with your weekend itinerary? Never fear, Go! is here! This regular feature highlights everything from rock shows to art openings, from delicious dishes to hidden-gem hangouts.
Friday, 1/11
Pre-Party Gras: Before the trillions of tacky beads and beer-crusted plastic cups litter the streets of Soulard for Mardi Gras, stroll peacefully to the more cultured version, Arti Gras, an exhibit at Soulard Art Market & Contemporary Art Gallery (2028 South 12th Street; 314-258-4299). Tonight, the formal reception from 7 to 10 p.m. (free and open to the public) showcases the works of more than 40 artists in all types of media. If you can’t make it tonight, the show runs through Wednesday, February 6.
Get Served: If last week’s 70-degree weather has you jonesing for some seaside sports, Alison Sieloff points you to the Scottrade Center (South 14th Street and Clark Avenue) for the AVP Hot Winter Nights Tour at 7:30 p.m. Click here for more details.
Saturday, 1/12
Lost and Bound: The Ellen Curlee Gallery (1308-A Washington Avenue; 314-241-1299), chosen as Best Art Gallery by the RFT in ’07, is known for highlighting some of the best fine-art photography not only in the city, but in the nation. View Wellbound, the gallery’s current exhibit, on its final day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Focusing on the photography of periodicals, two artists, Mickey Smith and Dean Kessmann, make statements through their works about the onslaught of digital technology -- Smith does so by taking simple shots of bound publications that collect dust on library shelves, while Kessmann displays the colors of magazines in a new and revitalizing way.
Above the Law: They send a bill for fixing a ticket; they send a bill for legal advice. Now, some lawyers want to charge you to hear them sing -- it’s almost criminal! And if this group of attorneys wasn’t at the very least mildly amusing, we’d totally object. Alas, the Courthouse Steps chorus is worth the $23-to-$25 fee. At 8 p.m. at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre (Parker Road and Waterford Drive; 314-921-5678), these law-practicing serenaders, who’ve been performing together for more than a decade, put on a show full of memorable tunes and sharp-witted high jinks. And you’ll never be able to look at a lawyer in the same way again!
Quitters Never Win: Haven’t renewed your gym membership? Didn’t kick that pack-a-day habit? No matter what your new year’s resolution might have been, ten14 superlounge (1014 Locust Street; 314-436-8890) will make sure you forget all about it. That’s right: Be one of the first 100 people through the club’s door at 10 p.m., and collect one “resolutions” goodie bag filled with items including a cigarette, some chocolate, a coupon for a free drink and a condom. Stay to hear music by DJs A-Flex and D-Mega, or take the goods and run!
Sunday, 1/13
Small Wonders: As the standard size for an American home continues to grow, things seem to only be shrinking at 4746 Gravois Avenue. Or maybe it’s only an illusion. We blame the McMansions. At any rate, you can see finely detailed itty-bitty models of the Old Cathedral and Bevo Mill along with other tinies from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Miniature Museum of Greater St. Louis for $2 to $5.
Toothy Reception: For kids, going to the dentist is as painful as discovering the tooth fairy ain’t for real. Leave that all behind, and check out the Delta Dental Winter Zoo event, during which the knowledgeable Tooth Wizard teaches everything dental at the Saint Louis Zoo in Forest Park (314-781-0900). Alison Sieloff shares more about this event and the oral-hygiene regimen of frogs here.
Bull Market: It’s pure entertainment watching poor folks get tossed from a mechanical bull – but when’s the last time you witnessed the real thing? Round up your herd for the last day of the Longhorn World Championship Rodeo at the Family Arena (2002 Arena Parkway, St. Charles; 636-896-4200). As for the details, Anna Teekell corralled ’em up nicely for you here.
