Friday, December 30, 2011
The evening includes fireworks, face-painting, music and magicians, drama, illusion, dance and a safe environment.
From musicians and magicians to face-painting and fireworks, First Night 2012 at Grand Centerin St. Louis offers something for everyone this New Year’s Eve. “I’m really excited about it this year,” said Travis Howser, director of events and theater for First Night. “It’s a wide range. I think there’s a general perception that this thing is specifically for families. Now it is a really family-friendly festival, and we do have a lot of families, but with the range of performances that we have, it’s for everyone. Every age, race, whatever—that’s what I find most exciting about the festival, is that it really covers all spectrums. And there really is something for everyone to see.” The “something” includes a comedy illusionist, interactive …
Monday, December 26, 2011
If the holidays brought a new mobile device into your life, add the Patch App for the Android or the iPhone.
Patch for iPhone keeps customers connected to the latest news, weather, local business listings and current events happening in their neighborhood. Patch’s app will keep you engaged and mobile by delivering 24/7 local community coverage. Features include: Plus, you can save anything from favorite stories to business listings direct to the iPhone for easy offline access. Customer opinions are extremely valued, so please send app feedback to the Patch team! Patch Places for Android is the go-to directory of local businesses in 800+ Patch towns. Any Patch community can be selected to connect to a mobile directory of every place nearby with Patch Places for Android. From local businesses and organizations to government offices and public parks…
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Follow Santa and see when he will hit St. Charles County.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is charged with keeping the United States and Canada safe from dangers originating from the sky or space. Tonight, however, the Colorado-based government agency adds one more important task to its daily list of duties. The agency will again provide its Official Santa Tracker that marks the Big Man's every move as he makes his way throughout both hemispheres. Local families will be able to see Santa's progress and be prepared for his arrival in Wentzville. Included on the site is a countdown and activity page and a flight tracking system. Kids and adults can enjoy this very entertaining site that will have sugar plums dancing through everyone's head before retiring.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Patch wants to know.
With a week to go before Christmas, Patch wants to know what you watch this time of year. Holiday movies are practically a requirement for the season along with decorating the house, baking cookies and wrapping presents. So what is your must watch holiday movie? Take our poll and tell us why you watch your favorite each year in the comments below.
Here are some tips to navigate the diet pitfalls of holiday parties.
As the holiday season goes into full gear, you’re probably making decisions about food choices and activities based on “Do I have the time or does it really matter?” Fortunately, you can pull a little bit of healthy into your holiday routine with the following tips. Parties are meant to be enjoyed, so food will always be a big part of them but you can manage how you eat to ensure that the food doesn’t become the biggest part of the party. If you overindulge during the next three weeks, remember that there are 49 weeks in the year, and you can easily use that time to make healthy a part of what you do. Remember to enjoy the season and the time you have with family and friends! Happy Holidays!
Friday, December 16, 2011
Saturday features an appearance by Santa along with carolers, a brass concert and even chestnuts roasted over an open fire.
With model trains chugging through 5,000 square feet of blooming plants, Christmas trees, Nutcracker soldiers, wooden rocking horses and other old-fashioned toys, the Missouri Botanical Garden’s “Gardenland Express” holiday display is a throwback to an era people cherish and miss. “We’re kind of becoming a traditional spot for a lot of people,” said Karen Hill, a public information officer with the garden. “The old department store windows downtown used to have trains and things like that in them. A lot of people have commented over the years that our display kind of reminds them of that and has sort of replaced that as their holiday tradition.” Gardenland Express has been part of the garden’s holiday offerings since 2003. Preparation …
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
By sending a real holiday card with a real stamp metro St. Louis residents can support local artists and charities--and maybe even give the flagging U.S. Postal Service a boost.
There's a Stamps.com commercial that makes this bold assertion: "There's nothing worse than standing in line at the post office." Really? It's this kind of statement that may be contributing to the U.S. Postal Service's financial and operational woes. Stamps.com and other online postage vendors would have us believe that printing postage at home is the next best thing to the Internet. And there's another commercial from Stamps.com; in which the prospect of a post office run strikes a nameless fear into the hearts of office workers. (Not to be left out of the online retail game, the U.S. Postal Service sells a wide range of postage and other items on its website). A reassuring routine Many of my activities take place in the virtual life: …
Friday, December 9, 2011
Santa and his elves will stroll the parade route, accepting donations of toys and cash and giving out holiday cheer.
A Christmas Parade with visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus, elves, snowmen and more, downtown businesses with live holiday scenes in the windows and the play “A Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmas” make Hannibal the place to be this weekend. “We certainly would like to invite visitors to Hannibal and have them experience Hannibal in a whole new light this season,” said Gail Bryant, director of the Hannibal Convention and Visitors Bureau. The annual parade, sponsored by the Hannibal Jaycees, has the theme “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.” With the historic downtown decorated for the holidays, the parade will be part of a winter wonderland of lights and displays. “Last year we had a sleigh, reindeer, snowmen – people get really …
Monday, December 5, 2011
Patch contest gives readers a chance to show off holiday spirit.
Does your house outshine the others in your neighborhood when it comes to holiday decorations? If the answer is yes, starting Dec. 8, enter Patch's Deck the House Contest for a chance to win $100,000 for your local public school system, $500 toward your electric bill or bragging rights in your neighborhood. The contest will run until Dec. 26 and users will vote for the best-decked house in their town. From there, Patch judges will select 24 finalists nationwide, who will get their December electric bill paid by Patch (up to $500). The grand prize winner will recieve a $100,000 donation to their local school system. We'll give you an update with more details next week, but for now, get decorating. And don't forget to take photos!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
What's the story behind your favorite Christmas ornament? Whether you made it in kindergarten or it's been handed down through generations, share it on Patch.
I remember a seventh-grade classmate who complained loudly when her mother decided to make a magazine-inspired fashion statement out of the Christmas tree. Instead of hauling out boxes of old ornaments, the snow-flocked tree was covered with red bows, tiny apples and naked cherubs. That classmate believed, as I do, that a Christmas tree is meant to tell a family's history, and she missed the handmade ornaments, the mementos of family milestones and other odd bits that find themselves tied to an evergreen branch each December. We'd like to know what ornaments are special to you and your family. Is it a precious heirloom blown-glass figurine? A gift from a teacher? A souvenir of a vacation or other important event in your life? Post a …
Jean Whitney
12:38 pm on Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Hmmm, seems to be working from a Mac computer . . . more ›