Recently in St. Louis Category

Don't be too quick to pooh-pooh the inaugural LouFest: It may be the first time St. Louis is trying to stage this major 2-day concert event, but it seems to be doing it right, with impressive bands like Built to Spill set to take the stage on August 28 and 29, 2010.

That band will join 17 others in the heart of the city in Forest Park, one of the largest urban parks in the US (it's 500 acres larger than Central Park) and a spot that's easily accessible from the Sheraton St. Louis City Center Hotel & Suites. The lineup isn't as overwhelming as, say, Lollapalooza's, and thank goodness for that. With only one band performing in each time slot, you won't have to miss anyone. On Saturday, Built to Spill warms up the stage for the evening's closer, Broken Social Scene. On Sunday, things get even better, thanks to performances by the Fruit Bats (hear a sample in the video above), Alejandro Escovedo, Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, and the night's headliner, Zooey Deschanel's She & Him. The Nosh Pit food court will sell better-than-your-average fest eats, including blue fin tuna tostada, lobster spring rolls, Southwest smoked trout flatbread, vegan cookies, and blueberry Italian ice. Better still, the fest has a strong eco angle: More than 20 vendors will be on hand to teach you about conservation and clean energy, and a plastic-conserving water bottle filling station means you won't have to fork over cash to get a new bottle of water.

If you're looking to squeeze a little sightseeing and exercise into your next trip to St. Louis - but want to do it in a less typical way - book a room at the Sheraton St. Louis City Center Hotel & Suites for the weekend of August 20...and pack your bike helmet.

The Moonlight Ramble, a St. Louis tradition for nearly 50 years, started - sort of - in 1964, when Dick Leary organized an urban nighttime bicycle ride...except he was the only one who showed up. But he tried again next year, and good thing: Today, some 10,000-plus riders take to the streets of the city just after midnight on August 22. You'll have your pick of a 9- or 19-mile route, and the whole family is encouraged to participate; about 10% of riders are under the age of 12. The event kicks off at 9 p.m. on Saturday, with the opening of the vendor village. The ride starts at 12:01 a.m. on the dot, and the after-party kicks off at 1 a.m. (riders have until 3 a.m. to finish). Your registration gets you into the post-ride bash, and a T-shirt that is, of course, glow-in-the-dark. Upgrade to the premier rider package, and you'll also get access to a VIP tent, a bike flashlight, glow-in-the-dark water bottle, and two tickets to a Schlafly Patron Party. Don't want to lug your bike in from out of town? Visit here for bike rental options.

The flowers are bursting with color at the Missouri Botanical Garden this spring, with everything from orchids to weeping cherries blooming throughout the nearly 80 acre space. A host of events celebrate the garden's annual rebirth, giving visitors an opportunity to get in touch with nature and gain a greater appreciation for the the nation's oldest botanical garden in continuous operation. On May 7, 2010, celebrate National Public Gardens Day with buy-one-get-one admission and exhibits like the "Power of Plants" art display and "Garden of Memories," an exhibit of photographic imagery and textile work by artist Luanne Rimel. Chinese Culture is celebrated on May 15-16, with the Grigg-Nanjing Friendship Garden hosting parades, dragon dancers, t'ai chi demonstrations, and tea tasting. And everything comes up roses at the Rose Society of Greater St. Louis show on May 29, when new cultivars and old favorites are shown and sold by the nation's top growers. Of course, the garden is lovely no matter when you visit, with a Japanese strolling garden, children's garden, and geodesic dome conservatory offering endless opportunities to stop and smell the flowers. Starwood has hotels throughout the St. Louis area, including the nearby Westin St. Louis.

[image via Missouri Botanical Garden]

Autumn is normally known for Oktoberfest-type of events, so it's refreshing to see a wine festival shine a light on the best of the vineyard as well. The St. Louis Wine Festival will take place September 27-28, 2008 at scenic Forest Park, bringing together vintners with more than 200 different types of wine to sample. (You might want to pace yourself.) They'll have just about every style of wine imaginable, but you don't have to be a wine expert to appreciate the different varietals. That's because wine seminars will be offered to help you identify which styles you like the best, from Cabernet to Chianti and everything in between. Better still, since wine goes so well with food, chefs from some of the city's top restaurants will conduct cooking demonstrations that are sure to inspire a few people in the audience to attempt their own culinary masterworks. Practice makes perfect. Best of all, part of the proceeds from the festival will go to support the Flora Conservancy of Forest Park, and that makes every wine taste a little better. Add some live jazz and blues music to the mix and you've got a nice party indeed. Starwood has six properties in St. Louis, including the nearby Westin St. Louis.

[image via St. Louis Wine Festival]