TUE 11/29 The kitchen used to be our playground. So flush were we with culinary confidence that we invited the boss over for roasted chicken — not realizing the bird was, um, a bit underdone. Our boss beat a hasty retreat, sweating and swearing, and on Monday we got "laterally moved" to the mailroom. Our mantra has since been "dining out for life!" — and we were pleased as punch to hear the Saint Louis Effort for AIDS (EFA) echo our rallying cry. Of course, the EFA's devotion to dining out is much more charitable and worlds more important. Dine at one of nearly 200 participating restaurants, and at least 25 percent of your bill goes to the EFA. While Dining Out for Life is an international event, all local proceeds stay in St. Louis to fund education programs and support those living with HIV/AIDS. Throughout the day, volunteers provide donation envelopes for diners who wish to contribute extra money to the cause. Thanksgiving-time often finds us with more blessings than we can count; make others' lives a little more blessed by giving. Use your MasterCard, and the credit-card company matches the donation dollar-for-dollar. For more information and a list of participating restaurants, visit www.stlefa.org or call 314-333-6671. — Brooke Foster
High Contrast
Alfred Stieglitz in ten steps
Alfred Stieglitz, the man, was one of the early proponents of photography as a fine art; Alfred Stieglitz, the exhibit of ten of Stieglitz's works, is the body of evidence that proved Stieglitz's argument. These prints chart his growth, showing a man transitioning from a technically adept craftsman capable of fixing a moment to his arrival as a master of shadow and light, able to harness the elements of composition and contrast to engender an emotional response in the viewer. Stieglitz' From the Shelton, West (pictured) is more than a representation of skyscrapers in 1935 Manhattan: This is a stark totem of the urban environment, revealing both the grandeur and the loneliness of progress. Alfred Stieglitz opens Friday, November 25, in Gallery 321 at the Saint Louis Art Museum in Forest Park (314-721-0072 or www.slam.org) and remains up through March 26. —Paul Friswold
Class of Forever
SAT 11/26
In a thousand years, no one will care where you went to high school. But so what? We're living in the now, and right now high school pedigree is the penultimate St. Louis question (the ultimate question remains "how much longer till Opening Day?"). Dan Dillon (pictured) tackles the high school question in his book So Where'd You Go to High School? The Baby Boomer Edition, revealing all manner of trivia about St. Louis' secondary learning institutions. Dillon signs copies at 2 p.m. at Barnes & Noble (13995 New Halls Ferry Road, Florissant; 314-830-3550), and admission is free. — Paul Friswold
Share the Wealth
Spare a child
FRI 11/25
The day after Thanksgiving can be a big let-down. The turkey has grown cold; indigestion has set in; Aunt Mimi still lurks in the background, claiming the last of the giblets. Things seem a bit bleak. But something can be done, and it doesn't involve the Balloon Parade. Keystone of St. Louis holds a Thanksgiving After-Party from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. at Rue 13 (1311 Washington Avenue). What does this mean for you? Not leftovers, but beer, wine, soda and bar food, and for a good cause at that. Keystone is a group of young professionals that holds social fundraisers for local charities; this party benefits Our Little Haven, a St. Louis nonprofit that helps children affected by abuse, neglect or drug use. It's a great cause and a great chance to meet other socially conscious St. Louisans. Tickets are $30 in advance (www.keystoneofstlouis.org) or $35 at the door, and include drinks and snacks, not to mention a chance to help some kids who could really use a hand this holiday season. — Christine Whitney
