The Jewish Film Festival of St. Louis continues today, and if you haven't been to a screening yet, hurry: Tomorrow is the last day. Your choices du jour include the Adrien Brody romantic comedy Dummy, about a hapless ventriloquist, at 2 p.m.; the moving documentary Paperclips, which follows a Tennessee middle school class' quest to collect 6 million paperclips to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust, at 5:30 p.m.; and the family comedy Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi at 8 p.m. All three movies screen at the Landmark Plaza Frontenac Cinema (Lindbergh Boulevard and Clayton Road, Frontenac; 314-442-3299 or www.stljewishfilmfestival.org). Tickets are $9 to $10 per show.
Thursday, June 30
Even though Mr. Night and Ms. Day have their fingers on the pulses of both national and local culture beats, they can't be everywhere at once, they can't own all possible music, and they can't watch every movie ever in existence. Sometimes, while they search for the perfect events, something's got to give. So, unfortunately, we're reporting that we've never seen the Will Ferrell movie Old School. We know it's embarrassing, and that's why we're rectifying this cinematic oversight by heading down to the free Soulard Starlight Cinema series at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour Center (South 12th and Lynch streets). We'll be there when the gates open at 7 p.m. (just to ensure we get a prime spot to lay our blanket), and starting at 8:15 p.m., we'll be the ones shushing people while we're watching Old School with bated breath. Join us as we eat free popcorn and purchase beer, all to benefit the Soulard Safety Program (and our knowledge of random movie quotes).
Friday, July 1
So, when you're done at the 3rd Floor Gallery taking in Michelle X's Savage Tarot (look left for further details on that), don't forget to partake of the other nearby art galleries. The Philip Slein Gallery (1319 Washington Avenue; 314-621-4634 or www.philipsleingallery.com) opens two shows this evening: Fresh! and Daniel Barton: Post-Modern Primitive. The former is a group show featuring the works of five young artists (Bryan Reckamp, K.L. Robinson, Shane Simmons, Cassie Simon and John Watson), and the latter is, as the name implies, a solo show by Daniel Barton. If you're interested in seeing the newest of the new in new St. Louis art, the Philip Slein is offering you a gimmie here: six young artists, all in one building, and you can examine and appreciate their work for free. The gallery hosts an opening reception from 6 to 9 p.m., and the shows remain up through August 6.
Saturday, July 2
'Tis the season of outdoor markets, as Mr. Night has discovered. A recent Saturday morning spent nursing a hangover was made much better by the Market in the Loop (6655 Delmar Boulevard, University City). The produce vendors offered pretty veggies in soothing colors; a booth selling clip-on sunglasses offered a few moments of diversion, as did the little booksellers' table. But what saved him from certain doom was Tango. This booth sells Argentinean food, and Tango's piping-hot, handmade empanadas were a lifeline to a delicious, headache-free paradise. At $2.50 per morsel, Mr. Night ate ham-and-cheese empanadas until he was broke. The market usually starts filling up around 9:30 a.m., but it doesn't really get going until after 10. Not that you'll be getting up any earlier, but you might want to try to beat Mr. Night there, or there'll be no empanadas for you.
Sunday, July 3
Now that you've mapped every single inch of Forest Park, the wide expanse is starting to bore you. Take a break from your usual routine this weekend, and head out to Onondaga Cave State Park (7556 Highway H, seven miles southeast of the I-44 Leasburg exit, in Leasburg, Missouri; 573-245-6576 or www.mostateparks.com/onondaga.htm). There, you can hike one of three trails, but more important, you can escape the dank-wool-blanket heat by ducking into either Onondaga Cave or, if you're more adventurous and want to carry a lantern (cool), Cathedral Cave. The less-than-one-mile Onondaga tours run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today; admission is $5 to $10. On Sunday Cathedral Cave tours are offered at 10:30 a.m. and cost $4 to $6 for the two-hour adventure. And confidential to the nature-loving fashionistas: Either tour would be a great place to debut your new spring-sale jacket, since both caves hold steady at 57 degrees.
Monday, July 4
No one has ever accused you of being unpatriotic, but let's face it: People are starting to talk. They've begun to notice that you're not oooh-ing and aahhh-ing over the fireworks like everyone else. In fact, as soon as the boom-booms start, you're nowhere to be found -- and Night & Day Global knows your secret. It's OK; it's safe with us. We won't tell anyone about your Fourth of July Fear, that you're actually terrified of the fireworks. So what are you going to do tonight when as far as the eye can see, pretty explosions are, well, exploding? You're going to encourage a group of your friends to head down to the Central West End. That neighborhood has oodles of high-rise buildings with accessible rooftops -- and perhaps you all should stealth-maneuver your way onto one of them (N&D Global is not liable if something goes awry). There, you'll be too far away to hear the bombs of the many municipalities bursting in air, but you'll have a bird's-eye view of the displays. And trust us: The sights will be patriotic, the silence, golden.
Tuesday, July 5
Where all them choral singers at? You know who you are. You're between gigs right now, and you're itchin' to sing a little Puccini this evening, like maybe the "Humming Chorus" from Madama Butterfly. Well, you're in luck, because the first of Webster University's three St. Louis Summer Sings programs is tonight. The Webster University Choral Society supplies the scores, which include the aforementioned Puccini, as well as Wagner's "Pilgrim's Chorus" and Verdi's "Brindisi." You just need to show up with the $10 admission fee, practice the scores a bit, enjoy some light refreshments and then perform the evening's program at 9:15 p.m. Registration opens at 7:10 p.m. at the Community Music School of Webster University (560 Trinity Avenue, University City; 314-968-7035).
