The temperature might not decrease much at night, but St. Louis summer events definitely get substantially cooler when the sun goes down. This year the city boasts even more nighttime fun than usual on account of the 100 year World’s Fair anniversary celebration.
The Muny
One of St. Louis’s oldest nighttime diversions is The Muny, the nation’s largest and oldest outdoor theater. The Muny was inaugurated on June 5, 1917 to a crowd of over 12,000 theatergoers. The summer season goes from June 21 to August 15, sadly ending before most students return to school. This year, performances include “Cats,” “Annie,” “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “The Music Man,” “Guys and Dolls,” “42nd Street,” and last and most appropriately, “Meet Me in St. Louis.”
Located in Forest Park, the theater is a pleasant walk from campus. Tickets are available online or at the Muny box office, ranging from $8 to $56 depending on the proximity of the seat to the stage. Free seats are also available at the very back, but to get these you’ve got to show up early! Shows begin at 8:15, giving the sun time to sink low enough in the sky to reduce its heat and making the Muny an ideal nighttime activity.
Ferris Wheel
If theater is not appealing, this summer Forest Park offers another nighttime option for those who are mourning the loss of childhood. In remembrance of the World’s Fair, the City of St. Louis has erected an eleven-story “Giant Wheel” in Forest Park between the green houses and the ball fields on McKinley Drive. Rides are only $2.00 per adult (if you decide to find a child to bring along, he can ride for only $1.00). The wheel is open from 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Monday to Thursday, but until 9:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; it’s a great cheap date and a chance to see the city and the campus from an entirely new perspective.
River Splash
Those Milwaukee folks really got it right with Summerfest. Outdoor evening concerts are an ideal summer diversion. This year, St. Louis is sponsoring River Splash, a weekend concert series. Between July 15 and August 21, the music will rock the St. Louis Riverfront every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night starting at 7:00 p.m. Kudos to the St. Louis Celebrate 2004 team for selecting a wide range of performers; those visiting the Lou will include the B-52’s (who doesn’t secretly enjoy “Love Shack”?), Liz Phair, Lyle Lovett, and Wyclef. Along with the music comes a giant river water screen show and fireworks. The best part about the concerts? They’re free! Check out celebrate2004.org for the concert schedule.
Nighttime Nosh
Dining al fresco is a great way to enjoy the cooler temperatures, providing the opportunity to talk with friends and people watch. That said, while there are no specific restaurant recommendations offered here, a few key locations provide the best views of interesting neighborhood scenery and residents.ÿThe Delmar Loop area is extremely close to campus, making it convenient for the non-car-owner, and most of its restaurants offer outdoor dining options. In most cases, this means that diners are sitting on the sidewalk, a prime location for some serious people watching. A street-side table is an ideal place to observe and comment on the Loop’s fascinating mix of characters, ranging from the preppy college student to the artsy street musician.ÿSoulard is another neighborhood filled with bars and restaurants. Unlike the Loop, which provides a much more relaxed atmosphere, Soulard’s bars provide the perfect setting for a night out, considering the frats aren’t exactly jumping during the summer months.
A notch above Soulard on the party scale is Laclede’s Landing, where on the weekends the streets are packed with people moving in and out of the area’s restaurants, bars and clubs. Of course, the crowds at Laclede’s will hardly help cool a person down, but the clubs provide a great excuse to dress up.