Wash U, Botanical Garden Challenging Young Scientists​

A unique educational partnership between WUSTL and the Missouri Botanical Garden is in its fifth year of introducing environmental science to high schoolers.

Cassandra Galluppi was a high school sophomore at Mary Institute & Country Day School in Ladue when she got wind of a new program at Washington University in St. Louis seeking students to do environmental biology fieldwork at the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Shaw Nature Reserve. Like any sophomore, she wasn’t yet settled on a career but she was leaning toward the sciences. Her chemistry teacher forwarded an email and offered to write a letter of recommendation. “I read over the program description and thought, ‘I’m not doing anything else this summer — I might as well apply,’ ” Galluppi said. “That might have been the best decision of my life.” Galluppi, now a junior at WUSTL majoring in biology, has her sights set on a career as a field …

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Celebrate the Holidays at Missouri Botanical Garden

The Gardenland Express is only one of a wide variety of events marking the holiday season. Traditional celebrations for Chanukah, Christmas and Kwanzaa are also planned.

The Missouri Botanical Garden outlined its season-long schedule of holiday events in a news release recently. Included in the holiday events are flora, toy trains, holiday crafts and plenty of holiday decorations. The Missouri Botanical Garden is sharing the spirit of the holiday season with an abundance of festivities to create lasting memories for young and old alike. Enjoy the return of the colorful Gardenland Express holiday flower and train show, two weekends filled with holiday carols and visits with Santa, holiday décor, traditional Chanukah and Kwanzaa celebrations, and more. For detailed information on the complete lineup of holiday happenings, visit the Garden's website. Gardenland Express The annual Gardenland Express holiday …

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Political Rewind: Akin, McCaskill, Sinquefield, Raven

On the senate race, political spending by a powerful Missouri contributor and climate change—our roundup of some of the Missouri political stories that hit the media this week.

Editor's Note: The following articles were aggregated from several news organizations in Missouri. You can read more about each story by clicking on the headline. President Emeritus of Missouri Botanical Garden take out billboard to warn about climate change (St. Louis Beacon) Dan Burkhardt said to Peter Raven, emeritus head of MoBOT, spent $2,500 for a billboard along Interstate 70 between Warrenton and Wright City, saying "Climate change is real. Vote for candidates who will work to find solutions." Both men regularly champion environmental causes. Burkhardt created a land trust with his own farmland a few years ago and recently helped launch the nonprofit Magnificent Missouri, celebrating Missouri conservation efforts. No mention of '…

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Missouri Botanical Garden's Best of Missouri Market Set for This Weekend

More than 120 local and regional food producers, artisans and crafters will be featured at the 21st annual event, which runs from Oct. 5 through Oct. 7.

Searching for quality regional products begins with shopping the best markets. Consider the best of the best — the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Best of Missouri Market. The 21st annual event, which will be held Oct. 5 through Oct. 7, is one of the oldest sustainable markets in the Midwest that continues attract thousands of shoppers. “We have everything from alpacas to salsa,” said Holly Berthold, a spokesperson for the garden. “Since the market’s beginning 21 years ago, the Best of Missouri Market’s goal was to bring together Missouri’s best regional artisans and crafters together.” Back in the early 1990s buying local was a concept, which was just gaining support, thanks in part to the then new Agri-Missouri program. Today, buying local …

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What to Look For at "Best of Missouri Market" 2012; Part 2

A question and answer session with the co-directors of the annual Missouri Garden event.

Yesterday, "Best of Missouri Market" co-directors Lynn Kerkemeyer and Chelsea Harris talked about the history of the event, dating back 20 years. Today, the two talk about what kind of hot items will be on sale October 5-7. Patch: Describe the unique items that will be for sale. Harris: I brought my updated vendors list. We do try and bring in new vendors each year to keep the market fresh. We rotate out 30 percent of the vendors each year. Some of our fun new things are great new wood items, pepper mills and bowls and beautiful cheese trays. Those garden sharpeners made of porcelain are interesting.  Park Avenue coffee is coming this year with their 73 flavors of gooey butter cake. We have over 120 vendors offering such neat and unique …

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Fun Around Town

Lantern Festival Underway at Missouri Botanical Garden

Elaborate Chinese lanterns are impressive art pieces by day and are transformed into striking images after dark.

Chinese artisans have worked for weeks to set up a new exhibit at the Missouri Botanical Garden that began its nearly three-month run on the garden's ground. Recent daytime visitors to the garden have had a good look at the art pieces, crafted primarily of colorful silks and molded steel, but it's at night that the artwork really shines, hence the name, "Lantern Festival: Art by Day, Magic by Night." The exhibit, which officially opened Saturday, runs through Aug. 19. Admission is $22 for adults and $10 for children (ages 3 to 12), with discounts for Garden members. The Missouri Botanical Garden brings an unprecedented international exhibition to St. Louis for a limited run this summer. “Lantern Festival: Art by Day, Magic by Night” …

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Nordstrom Grand Opening Gala Benefits St. Louis Organizations

The Wednesday event raised more than $110,000 for the Center of Creative Arts, the Contemporary Art Museum of St. Louis, the Missouri Botanical Garden and the St. Louis Art Museum.

On Wednesday evening, hundreds of people flocked to Nordstrom department store, the latest addition to the Saint Louis Galleria, for its Grand Opening Gala. The store opens Friday morning in Richmond Heights. The event raised more than $110,000 for four St. Louis-area organizations: the Center of Creative Arts (COCA), the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (CAM), the Missouri Botanical Garden and the St. Louis Art Museum. When asked what brought them to the night's festivities, most attendees responded with a simple, one-word answer: Nordstrom. "We've been Nordstrom card holders since 1998," said Bruce Hartung of Richmond Heights, who attended the gala with his wife. "It astounded me that it's been that long." In addition to Nordstrom fans…

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Get Out

Wine & Art, A Pulitzer Prize Finalist, Music And A Train Headline These Events

This week’s Get Out features everything from culture to fun.

Our area is full of a diverse inventory of activities for adults and families. This week’s list includes an art fair at a winery, a new nationally-touring exhibit at the Missouri History Museum, a summer concert series tradition, an author and a train ride. Each of these events has something different for everyone. Crown Valley Art Fair Just 60 minutes south of St. Louis in Ste. Genevieve, Crown Valley Winery and Crown Valley Brewery will be host to over 75 artists this weekend. Ste. Gen has always been a popular getaway spot for St. Louisans and this event gives you yet another reason to head out of the city. Wine, art, tours of the estate vineyards, golf and fantastic scenery make this the perfect escape. Where/When: Crown Valley Winery…

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Grab and Go Kids Planner

Sugar & Spice Plus Elmo Makes Nice

Grab & Go Kids Planner: With so many activities from which to choose, you’ll have a hard time making a decision.

This list of family-friendly activities takes you from 1930s Berlin to Sesame Street and around the world. Cabaret Where/When: John Burroughs School, Haertter Hall, 755 South Price Road February 24 — 26, 2011, 8 p.m. Why Go: Spend an evening in the Kit-Kat club with Sally Bowles, presented by the JBS Players. Pricing: $12/person. Tickets are available in the bookstore or at the box office 30 minutes before the performance. More information: Call (314) 993-4045 ext. 233   Happy Birthday Elmo! Where/When: Borders–Creve Coeur Saturday, February 26, 2011, 2 p.m. Why Go: Your little one(s) will love music, stories and crafts in celebration of Elmo’s big day. Perfect for ages 3 to 6. And don’t forget to stop by the café to treat yourself to …

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Grab and Go Kids Planner

Plan Your Week With These Family Activities

Grab & Go Kids Planner: We've taken the work out of finding activities that your family can enjoy.

 Owls, puppet shows, and story time are just a few of the activities we’ve found for you and your family.  Girl Talk! Where/When: Ladue Chapel, in the Fellowship Hall, 9450 Clayton Rd. Wednesday, February 16, 2011, 6:30 p.m. Why Go: Learn how moms and tween and teen daughters can talk to each other, stay safe with technology, handle cyber bullying and more. Details at: Carrie Silver-Stock. Pricing: Free. More information: Visit Carrie Silver-Stock or call 314-374-5795.   Paul Mesner Puppets Where/When: St. Louis County Library—Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd. Thursday, February 17, 2011, 10 a.m. Why Go: Bring your little ones, ages 3 and up, to enjoy two of Jules Feiffer’s picture books brought to life by puppets: “Bark George” and “…

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