The Commonspace > January 2006 > It's All Happening

Wednesday, January 4
Panel: "Is the City of St. Louis Removing Lead from Homes?
Carpenter Branch of the St. Louis Public Library, 3309 S. Grand
Free, 7 p.m., 314-727-8554, www.gateway-greens.org

The city's problem with lead paint — and its attendant health and development consequences for kids, especially — is well-documented, but tonight's discussion examines the next steps: is corrective action actually working? Representatives of the advocacy group Health & Environmental Justice and the city of St. Louis will take on the question of whether the city is actually cleaning up lead, or just revising the way it tests and reports results. One of those sleeper issues that remains very important for the future of the city.

Friday, January 13
Cherokee Streetapalooza
3100-3200 block of Cherokee Street, east of Gravois
Various covers and such, all ages, 314-772-3628

Okay, the "streetapalooza" part is our name, a lame attempt, perhaps to sum up the freeform glee we expect in the randomly arty area occupied by the (now)-stalwart Fort Gondo, concert venue Radio Cherokee, visual art houses Beverly and Snowflake, anti-cyber café Typo (decorated with antique typewriters), and the Tin Ceiling theater.

Saturday, January 14
Concert: "Salute to St. Louis — A Musical History"
Missouri History Museum, Lindell & DeBaliviere in Forest Park
Free, all ages, 1 p.m., 314-454-3150, www.mohistory.org

It's fitting, of course, (if a bit self-referential) that the Missouri Historical Society should be interested in marking its own important milestones, and this year, it happens to be the 140th anniversary of their existence. In celebration, the River City Pops will present a musical history of St. Louis. The program promises "various topics pertinent to the St. Louis experience." What will they sing about? "State Takeover/Unaccredited School System Talkin' Blues?" A medley of "Provel, What Say You?/Which High School?/What Parish You Live In?" Perhaps, taking a page from the Urban Blight Players, "It's a Big Small Town?" That sounds like something we want to hear.

Saturday, January 14
Concert: Dogtown Allstars
Famous Bar, 5213 Chippewa
Call for cover, 21-up, 9 p.m.-1 a.m., 314-832-2211, www.dogtownallstars.com

Dogtown Allstars It's down and dirty funk for this solid bunch of players (bassist Andy Coco, drummer Drew Weiss, lead guitarist Adam Wilke and keyboardist Nathan Hershey, who plays a mean ole organ), and whether covering classics or laying out their own original grooves, they have an infectious energy that bounces from the stage to the crowd and back again. Don't plan on sittin' still too long inside the friendly confines of the Famous Bar.

Thursday, January 19
Film: Ciné16
Missouri History Museum, Lindell & DeBaliviere in Forest Park
Free admission, all ages, 7 p.m., 314-454-3150

It's a new year and a new location for our old friend, the Ciné16 educational film series, this month resurrecting classics like "Johnny Learns His Manners" (Lord, Johnny, come teach these kids of today!) and "How Does a Rainbow Feel?" Curators Michael Allen and Claire Nowak-Boyd embark on bring the films to a new crowd of peeps.

Friday, January 20
Art Opening: Great Rivers Biennial
Contemporary Art Museum-St. Louis, 3750 Washington Ave.
Free admission, all ages, 7-9 p.m., 314-535-4660, www.contemporarystl.org

The local version of an arts genius grant, The Great Rivers Biennial (a partnership between the museum and the Gateway Foundation) aims to give a higher profile to visual artists in the area who, in the words of the program, "have not yet received recognition commensurate with the quality of their work." What that means in reality is a lauded opening at the swank Contemporary, and a sweet grant of $15K. Go, emerging artists! The honorees in 2006 are Moses, Matthew Strauss and Jason Wallace Triefenbach.

Saturday, January 21
Film: "Liberty Bound"
Carpenter Branch of the St. Louis Public Library, 3309 S. Grand
Free, 7 p.m., 314-727-8554, www.gateway-greens.org

Trying times, these: whether you're sick of all the conspiracy talk or you see a neocon in every toilet, it's good to keep up with what the people are saying. This film, the latest in a series presented by Progressive Films, explores the state of America since 9/11, particularly focusing on folks who've had rough encounters that have left them feeling their civil liberties are a little less secure. Footage includes interviews with Howard Zinn and Michael Parenti.

Friday, January 27
Concert: Ptah Williams
Grigg Gallery at the Saint Louis Art Museum, One Fine Arts Drive in Forest Park
Free, all ages, 6-8:30 p.m., 314-721-0072, www.slam.org

The man hasn't won "best jazz musician" in the RFT's poll five times for nothin': Williams has serious chops, up there with Charlie Parker and Thelonius Monk, the greats to whom he's often compared. And now, you won't even have to pay a cover or buy an overpriced drink to enjoy the virtuosity.

Saturday, January 28
Maplewood Farmers Market Indoor Winter Pantry
Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest
Free admission, all ages, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 314-241-BEER, schlafly.com/market.shtml

If one of your New Year's resolutions was to eat more whole foods and less processed crap (I'm talkin' to the wo-Man in the Mirror, I'm askin' her to change her ways), this would be an excellent place to start in the dead of winter. The same local growers and crafters that supply the outdoor parking-lot market take it inside to provide meat, cheese, bread, honey and more to keep the tummy happy. No, there won't be locally grown pineapple, but let's get real: this is the Midwest in January. Embrace it!