Places to Go, Things to Do

Black History Month activities; Muny auditions

February is Black History Month and many groups have special programming during the month. One program with activities throughout February is at the Jefferson National Exposition Memorial on the downtown riverfront.

Events at the Jefferson Memorial are at the Gateway Arch and the Old Courthouse.

You also can check your favorite institution for Black History programming of interest to you.

Besides Black History events, February has many other events of special interest to kids.

Every month, Young Saint Louis.com looks for events in which you might like to attend or participate in during the month. In most cases, YSL.com is looking for events which are either free or have low admission prices.

Black History Month on the Riverfront

The Jefferson National Exposition Memorial will hold Black History Heritage Month during February, with programs at both the Gateway Arch and the Old Courthouse.

There will be historical portrayals and storytelling. Among the portrayals will be ones about the Dred Scott segregation case and the Underground Railroad operations in this area.

For information, call (314) 655-1700 or visit www.gatewayarch.com.

African-American genealogy at History Museum

The Missouri History Museum will hold an African-American Genealogy Workshop on Saturday, Feb. 28, from 1-3 p.m.

Admission is free.

The workshop will have valuable information whether you are an expert or an interested novice. The workshop will focus on basic skills of gathering, preserving, researching and publishing of information about African-Americans.

For information, call (314) 361-9017.

Fossil Hunt for Kids

A Fossil Hunt for Kids will be held Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Greensfelder Park in western St. Louis County. The hunt will be from 10-11:30 a.m.

Kids will go hunting with a park naturalist and explore the rocks in Greensfelder Park. The event starts will a short orientation class and then the kids will go on a search for fossils.

Advance registration is required. There is a charge of $3 per person.

For information, call (314) 615-8472.

Sweetheart Figure-skating Competition

The ISI Sweetheart Figure Skating Competition will be held Friday through Sunday, Feb. 6-8, at the Kennedy Recreation Complex in north St. Louis County.

Spectators are welcome to sit in on the competition.

For information, call (314) 894-3088.

World War II programs at Jefferson Barracks

"World War II: North Africa, Sicily and Italy" will be the subject of programs at the Jefferson Barracks Park, starting on Sunday, Feb. 1, and running through May 31.

The exhibits will be from the first American offensive in World War II. There will be uniforms, weapons and equipment on display along with exhibit and text panels.

For information, call (314) 544-6224 or visit www.stlouis.com.

St. Louis Symphony Young Adult Concerts

The Saint Louis Symphony Young Adult Concerts will be held Tuesday, Feb. 17, and Wednesday, Feb. 18. The Feb. 17 concert will be for kids grades 7-12 while the Feb. 18 concert is for kids grades 4-6.

Composer Paul Dukes will show how different musical sounds can depict different characteristics and different moods and tones. He will use the music from "The Sorcerer's Apprentice."

For information, call (314) 534-1700 or (314) 534-111 or visit www.slso.org.

Family overnight event at Shaw Nature

The Shaw Nature Reserve in southwest St. Louis County is holding a Laura Ingalls Wilder's Farmer Boy Family Overnight on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 20-21. It begins at 7 p.m. Friday and ends at 11 a.m. Saturday.

For information, call (636) 451-3512 or visit www.shawnature.org.

Overnight campout for boys at Science Center

The overnight youth campout at the St. Louis Science Center in February will be an all-boys event. It is scheduled for Friday-Saturday, Feb. 20-21.

Boys and their adult escorts check in at 5 p.m. Friday and the event ends on Saturday.

The overnights include Omnimax tickets, live science demonstrations, hands-on workshops, a pizza dinner and continental breakfast.

For information, call (314) 289-4424 or visit www.slsc.org and look under youth activities.

Maple Sugar Festival at Rockwood Reservation

It doesn't seem possible, but it's just about maple syrup time in Missouri.

The Maple Sugar Festival will be held on Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Rockwood Reservation in western St. Louis County. Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

You'll be able to see the sugar sap being collected from the trees and then watch while the sap is evaporated until it becomes maple syrup.

You can find out about this and other February events at the Missouri Department of Conservation installations by going to www.mdc.mo.gov/areas/stlouis and click on to the calendar section.

Kids auditions for The Muny shows

The 2009 Muny auditions for children 7-through-13 will be held Saturday, Feb. 21, and for kids 14-18 on Sunday, Feb. 22. Both auditions are at the Performing Arts Center at St. Louis University High School, 4970 Oakland.

The auditions for the children's and teen choruses have a new format this year. Be sure to check in advance for rehearsal information by either calling (314) 361-1900 or visit www.muny.org.

Younger children will be auditioning for productions of "Annie" and "The Music Man." Older children are auditioning for "42nd Street," "Godspell" and "Hairspray."

Kids chosen for the 2009 season can then audition for the 2009 Muny Kids or Muny Teens.

How to decorate cakes, cookies at Botanical Gardens

The Missouri Botanical Garden will present a special program on hand-decorated cakes and cookies on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 21 and 22. The program is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

In addition to displays of the sugary treats, spectators can learn how decorators combine gum paste flowers, piping gel and sugary glitter to adorn the cakes.

For information, call (314) 577-9400 or visit www.mobot.org. Admission is free for children 12 and under.