Places to Go, Things to Do

Top indoor, outdoor events in November

November in the St. Louis area offers both indoor and outdoor fun events for kids and their families. In the outdoors, a special type of public fishing starts. But, indoors, there's also a chance to view circus artists and glass-making skills.

Now that the weather is cooler, the Missouri Department of Conservation gives kids a chance to fish for rainbow trout right in their own neighborhoods.

The Circus Day Foundation will present its fall program , "Circus Harmony: Fortissimo," in two shows Saturday, Nov. 19. These shows show off the skills of some of the area's best young circus performers.

The Third Degree Glass Factory provides a special kind of viewing experience on the third Friday of each month. There is free admission to the public to see glass artisans' work with molten glass to make a variety of objects and artwork.

Each month, Young Saint Louis.com looks for St. Louis metro area events in the current month that kids and their families will enjoy. Whenever possible, we look for things with free admission.

Here's a sampling of those places and things that might brighten your November:

 

Circus Harmony: Fortissimo

The fall program, "Circus Harmony Fortissimo," will be presented at 2 and 7 p.m. in the 3rd floor circus ring at the City Museum, 701 No. 15th Street. Admission is $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and kids.

The show features a variety of circus acts performed by local kids and others. The acts are backed by a variety of musical groups specializing in circus and ethnic music.

The two shows come at the end of the fall circus classes offered by the Circus Day Foundation. The fall classes were from September 7 through November 13.

Winter session classes will begin January 4. There also will be spring and summer class sessions.

For more information about classes and performances, visit www.circusday.org.

 

St. Louis-area Winter Trout Program

The Missouri Department of Conservation will stock 16 St. Louis area lakes with rainbow trout from this month through February, 2006. Over 36,000 trout, ranging in size from 8" to 10", will be released in local urban lakes for your fishing enjoyment.

Ordinarily, the shallow lakes in and around St. Louis are too warm for trout to survive. But, when the fall weather cools the waters, this provides the MDC an opportunity to bring a unique fishing experience right into urban areas.

Kids under 16 can fish for the trout without a Missouri license.

The MDC has been stocking urban lakes in this area since 1989. There is no advance notice of when the stocking occurs but you can keep track by calling the Fish Stocking Hot Line at (636) 300-9651.

The lakes being stocked are:

Wild Acres Park Lakes in Overland; January-Wabash Lake in Ferguson, Jefferson Lake in Forest Park; Boathouse Lake in Carondelet Park; O'Fallon Park in St. Louis City; Vlasis Park Lake in Ballwin; Walker Lake in Kirkwood, Tilles Park Lane in St. Louis County; Lakes 1,2 and 3 in Suson Park, and lakes 21, 22, 23, 24 and 28 in the August A. Busch Conservation Area in St. Charles County.

Some of these lakes are for "catch and release" fishing only. In others, you can keep your catch.

For complete rules, visit www.mdc.mo.gov/areas/stlouis/fish/fishing/winter/winter.htm.

 

Third Degree Glass Factory showings

The Third Degree Glass Factory is a public access glass studio on Delmar in the City. On the third Friday of each month, the studio is open for free public viewing of glass artists at work.

In November, the public viewing will be from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18.

The studio is located at 5200 Delmar. The studio also offers classes for those who want to learn more about working with glass.

For information, call (314) 367-4527 or visit www.stlglass.com.

 

Science Center Telescope Stargazing

Public telescope viewing is held at the St. Louis Science Center on the second Friday of the month. This month, that's November 11. The viewing is from dusk to 10 p.m. in the archery fields west of the Center's new Planetarium.

Admission is free.

For information, call (314) 289-4453 or visit www.slsc.org.

 

Laclede Quartet Kids Music Competition

String instrument players in grades 4 through 12 can sign up now to audition in the Laclede Quartet Kids Concert Competition. The audition dates will be next February 25 and 26. But, you should apply as soon as possible.

The deadline for audition registration is Feb. 23, 2006. For information and registration forms, you can visit www.lacledequartet.org.

The competition is open to both soloists and groups (duos, trios and quartets). Winners will play in concert at Fontbonne College on March 12, 2006, at 3 p.m.

The concert is taped and played on KFUO-AM. Winners receive $100.

 

Missouri Conservation Department events

With Thanksgiving in November, the Missouri Conservation areas have a number of outdoor cooking classes, including how to deep-fry your holiday turkeys safely. For those looking for some easier cooking lessons, there's even one for cooking hot dogs over an outdoor fire.

How to deep-frying turkeys will be taught on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at the Busch Conservation Area Shooting range from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Another class is at the Henges Shooting Range on Wednesday, Nov. 16 from 6-9 p.m.

If you're looking for something easier, try the Campfire Building Basics and Hot Dog Roast on Saturday, Nov. 26, from 2-5 p.m. at the Busch range.

These classes require advanced registration. Call (636) 441-4554.

For a whole range of other MDC activities in November, visit www.mdc.mo.gov and look for calendars.

 

St. Louis County Park events

The St. Louis County Park system provides a number of neat November walking tours, including night walks into deer territory and a hike that ends with a chili supper.

For these walks, advance registration is required. Call (636) 391-3474.

On Sunday, Nov. 5, you can either walk or bicycle along trails in Creve Coeur Park and end with an all-you-can-eat chili supper. The hike is from 5 to 8 p.m. Cost is $6.

On Saturday, Nov. 19, you can join a park naturalist for a nighttime hike in the Jefferson Barracks Park. You'll be searching for deer and other nocturnal wildlife during the 7-9 p.m. hike. Be sure to bring a flashlight. Cost is $3.

On Sunday, Nov. 20, you take a 1-3 p.m. afternoon hike in Lone Elk Park. A naturalist will review the park's history from a military base in the 1940s to the present wildlife refuge status. Cost is $3.

For other county park activities, visit www.stlouisco.com/parks.