Incredible Egg Hunts

In broken-home America, many of the people who grew up after the Leave It to Beaver era lived in a single-parent household for a chunk of their lives. For some of these kids, this didn't necessarily make things harder, just different. For example, if you were a kid who moved to an apartment because of divorce, you quickly learned that your new life presented some challenges and advantages you'd never experienced during your house-with-a-backyard life. In an apartment complex, you had to share the swing set -- but it was actually bolted in concrete, so it wouldn't jump when you swung too high. Nice apartment kids also had a lot of outdoor space, much more than what makes up your average backyard -- but so did the mean apartment kids, who would win the playground and other common areas in a well-fought turf war.

Fortunately, when you lived in an apartment, one thing you didn't have to share was your Easter-egg hunts, because Mom -- er, the Easter Bunny -- hid the eggs inside. Behind the bookcase, under the chair, in with the records: The living room would be peppered with the pastel of plastic eggs. And while it was still pretty tricky to find all the eggs, and you had a lot of fun trying, something was missing from your Easter celebrations, something outdoors -- and ever since then, your Easter candy hasn't tasted as quite as sugary as it should. Put the sweet back in your Peeps! It's time to participate in one of the area's adults-only egg hunts this week.

Shrewsbury hosts such a hunt on Friday, March 18, at the Festival Site Pavilion (in Wehner Park, 5200 Lenox Avenue, Shrewsbury; 314-647-1003). Of course, it's too easy for adults to find eggs during the day, so arrive at 7:30 p.m.; bring $5, a basket and a flashlight; and get ready to hunt! You'll also have a chance to win Cardinals tickets throughout the evening (the Easter Bunny never brought you anything like that!). In addition, Jefferson Barracks Park (533 Grant Road; call 314-894-3089 to register) hosts adult egg hunts from 9 to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday (March 18 and 19). These hunts cost $8, and some of the eggs are redeemable for cash -- we bet the prize will be more than the few pennies you used to find in your apartment eggs. And the joy you'll get from running around outside with a basket will be priceless.