Places to Go, Things to Do

Bigtime sporting events, plannng for spring

St. Louis will be host to some big-college sporting events during March We also have previews of some neat outdoor activities for spring.

For the first time, the Missouri Valley Conference will hold both its men's and women's basketball tournaments together in St. Louis. The men's tournament will be the 19th straight year. But, the women's meet is here for the first time.

The NCAA's Division 1 Wrestling Tornament also will be here in March.

There will be two St. Patrick's Day parades and Trainet will announce its 2008 Schedule of Rides this month.

(Each month, Young Saint Louis.com looks for neat Places to Go; Things to Do that are good for kids and their families. This month, the big-time sporting events will charge admission. But, there are many other events where admissions are free.)

Missouri Valley basketball

The Missouri Valley Conference will hold its men's basketball tournament on Thursday through Sunday, March 6-9, at the Scottrade Center in downtown St. Louis.

A week later, Thursday through Sunday, March 13-16, the MVC will hold its women's basketball tournament at the St. Charles Arena.

This is the first time the conference has held both its men's and women's basketball tournaments in metro St. Louis.

For information, call (314) 421-0339. Or you can visit the conference website at www.mvc-sports.com.

(For a story about YSL.com/AAU boy and girl ballkids who will be helping the MVC, see feature story on the home page of this edition.)

NCAA Division 1 wrestling

St. Louis also will be the site of the NCAA Division 1 wrestling tournament later in March. That meet also will be held at the Scottrade Center Thursday through Saturday, March 20-22.

For tickets, call (314) 241-1888. You can get more information by checking www.stlouissports.org/events.

St. Patrick's Day parades

There are two St. Patrick's Day parades this month in downtown St. Louis.

The 39th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade will be held Saturday, March 15, in the downtown area and at St. Louis Union Station. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the parade starts at noon.

The 30th annual St. Patrick's Day 5-mile run starts at 9 a.m. that day. For parade information call (314) 241-7287; for run, (314) 231-2598. Or you can visit www.irishparade.org.

The parade features floats and helium balloons.

Then the Ancient Order of Hibernians Dogtown St. Patrick's Day Parade will be held on the offial St. Patrick's Day, Monday, March 17.

The parade will feature marching bands, floats and family clans. For information, call (314) 645-5809.

Trailnet's 2008 ride schedule

Trailnet will announce its 2008 bicycle ride schedule at its annual Fire Up Chili Party on Saturday, March 8, at the Overland/St. Ann VFW Hall 3944. Party hours are from 6-9 p.m.

Printed versions of the 2008 ride schedule will be available at area bicycle shops throughout metro St. Louis.

Trailnet's ride schedule provides plenty of rides for youngsters and families.

For information, call (314) 416-9930 or visit www.trailnet.org. The website will have a list of bike shops near you where you can pick up the 2008 ride schedule.

MDC birding activities

A number of events involving the start of the spring bird season are among the many March programs sponsored at Missouri Department of Conservation areas in the metro area.

The Busch Memorial Conservation in St. Charles County will have a "It's Purple Martin Time" program Saturday, March 15. The Powder Valley Nature Center will hold a purple Martin class for homeschoolers on Thursday, March 6, from 9:30-11:30 a.m.

At the Rockwoods Reservation, a bird-feeder class will be held Wednesday, March 26, from 10 a.m. to noon. This is for kids 10 and up and will help them build a feeder to hang in their backyards.

For information on these and other classes, call individual areas or visit www.mdc.mo.gov/areas/stlouis.

"Tale Travelers" at Shaw

Kids and their families can have an early outdoor nature session at the Shaw Nature Reserve on Saturday, March 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The "Tale Travelers" program will feature nature stories, cool crafts and exploring the outdoors at the reserve near Gray's Summit, MO.

Admission is free for kids 12 and under. Other charges are $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and free for Missouri Botanical Garden members.

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

Butterfly House event

The Butterfly House in Faust Park will hold a "March Morpho Mania" event throughout March. The House is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The House will host five times the normal number of the beautiful tropical Blue Morpho butterflies from Central and South America.

For information, call (636) 530-0076 or visit www.butterflyhouse.org.

"Breakfast with Bunny" at Zoo

The St. Louis Zoo will host a "Breakfast with the Bunny" event on Easter Sunday, March 23.

Reservations are required. Call (314)768-5413 or visit www.stlzoo.org.

The event includes a full breakfast and a family photo with the Bunny.

"Pi Day"

One of the most significant numbers in math is "pi." In honor of that, the Metamo4ic Math Center in Ferguson is holding "pi Day" on Friday, March 14, starting at 1:59 p.m., and through Saturday, March 15.

The significance of the date and time is pi starts 3.14159. March in the third month, Friday is the 14th and the next three numbers are 159.

For information, call (314) 807-3290 or visit http://www.metamo4icmathcenter.com/