Every hotel in the area is booked to capacity. The daily migration to class looked significantly older this morning. And you couldn’t even find a seat in your usually half-empty chemistry lecture.

That’s right: today begins Parents Weekend.

And Parents Weekend means many things: you get to introduce Mom and Dad to your new friends, show them how fabulous your dorm room has become, and-best of all-you get off-campus meals and access to a car!

Sure, we want to show our parents a good time. We want to point them in the direction of yummy restaurants, unique attractions and prove to them that the city of St. Louis is way cooler than Atlanta, no matter what Emory’s Department of War might have told them.

But let’s be honest-especially if you’re new to the area, you probably haven’t had much time to explore St. Louis and search for parent-friendly ways to spend this weekend. That’s why, if you read on, you’ll find a number of fabulous ways to occupy your parents straight through ’til Sunday. And hey, you might even have some fun, too.

For the first time ever, the city of Clayton is welcoming Washington University parents with its own celebration. Tonight, beginning at 5 p.m., the newly named “Clayton Triangle” will host a block party with live entertainment and refreshments. Some of the 25 shops and restaurants that make up the Triangle will be handing out coupons.

The City Museum, located downtown, is a truly unique experience. Not actually a “museum” in the conventional sense of the word, it is instead an expansive ex-warehouse filled with plenty of ways to revert back to childhood: arts and crafts, live demonstrations, and a veritable jungle gym of recycled items to climb up and crawl under. And if your parents are operating on Pacific time, they might like to know that the City Museum is open past midnight on Saturdays.

Practically around the corner from campus is the St. Louis Zoo in Forest Park. Check out the hippos, tigers, elephants and-everyone’s favorite-the penguins. The weather this weekend is supposed to be full of that rare-to-St. Louis autumn comfort, so take advantage of it with a walk around the Zoo. An added bonus: Zoo admission is free, so you can tell your parents the afternoon’s on you.

Speaking of Forest Park, the attractions there definitely don’t end with the Zoo. There’s paddle boating, tennis courts and a golf course if your family’s feeling an athletic urge. Alternatively, the Art Museum, the History Museum and the St. Louis Science Center all call Forest Park home, and they’re all very impressive, very enjoyable museums.

The Anheuser-Busch Brewery offers tours of its facilities to the public. If Dad’s loyal to the King of Beers, or you’re just curious about how beer is made, this might be a fun way to spend the afternoon-as long as you’re over 21, that is.

Hockey’s back! That means St. Louis is once again home to competitive NHL action, care of the St. Louis Blues. The Blues have a home game just in time for Parents Weekend: this Saturday at 7 p.m. vs. the San Jose Sharks. Blues games are always exciting, and tickets are moderately priced. But if baseball’s more your thing, it might be nice to trek down to old Busch Stadium to bid it a last farewell.

Soulard Market is a large farmers’ market located south of the Busch Stadium. It’s one of the largest and oldest outdoor markets in the country, and its vendors sell everything from fruits and vegetables to jewelry and shampoos. Soulard, which is only accessible by car, provides an opportunity to pick up fresh fruits and veggies that might not be available on campus, at prices much more reasonable than Schnucks’.

Then, of course, there is the Arch. If you haven’t yet experienced this famed riverside attraction, you can’t call yourself a real St. Louisan. The Arch’s “Journey to the Top” offers an opportunity to take a trip in an elevator-like tram inside to its peak, an exhilarating 630 feet in the air, where visitors can get a completely new perspective of the city. You might consider brining along a picnic lunch, since the Arch sits amidst a beautiful, tree-lined park along the Mississippi.

Speaking of eating, Parents Weekend is an excellent time to explore area restaurants-you know, besides California Pizza Kitchen. There are a variety of great eclectic restaurants downtown, as well as in Clayton and the Central West End. If you’re looking for a traditional Italian meal, head straight to The Hill, St. Louis’ own Italian neighborhood. Check out the stretch of Olive Blvd. west of campus if you crave Chinese. Whatever you do, don’t take your parents to Bear’s Den-get off campus!

For those looking for an activity off the beaten path, an afternoon at the International Bowling Hall of Fame might suffice. Located right next to Busch Stadium, the three-story museum houses a variety of bowling-related exhibits. They also have antique and modern lanes open to the public.

Many students look forward to Parents Weekend because mom and dad appear with open hearts and open wallets. If you’re looking to take your parents shopping, think outside the Galleria bubble. Try the West County Mall, which is slightly nicer than the Galleria, but still full of popular stores, or the St. Louis Mills, a large discount mall. If you’re looking to spend in style, take a drive to Plaza Frontenac, St. Louis’ most high-end shopping establishment.

Moolah Theater can be difficult to get to without a car, and if you haven’t been there yet, you really need to go. Moolah, as opposed to typical movie theaters, is housed in an old Moorish temple and instead of expected stadium seating boasts leather loveseats and over-stuffed chairs. There’s also a full-service bar, which allows you to take drinks into the theater. You’ll never want to watch a movie in a normal theater ever again.

If you or your parents are drama-philes, this weekend offers two opportunities for on-campus theatrics: the Performing Arts Department’s production of “Hair” and Cast’n'Crew’s “Tick, Tick. Boom!” Both promise quality theater-going experiences, but act soon, because they’re likely to sell out fast!

Consider this list just a starting point-check out stlouis.citysearch.com, or www.explorestlouis.com for even more fun but family-friendly goings-on in our beloved city. Parents Weekend provides you with an opportunity to see the city in a way that you won’t be able to see it normally, so this Saturday, get off the Forty and get out into St. Louis!

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