Got a New Smartphone? Get the Patch App!

If the holidays brought a new mobile device into your life, add the Patch App for the Android or the iPhone.

Patch for iPhone keeps customers connected to the latest news, weather, local business listings and current events happening in their neighborhood. Patch’s app will keep you engaged and mobile by delivering 24/7 local community coverage. Features include: Plus, you can save anything from favorite stories to business listings direct to the iPhone for easy offline access. Customer opinions are extremely valued, so please send app feedback to the Patch team! Patch Places for Android is the go-to directory of local businesses in 800+ Patch towns. Any Patch community can be selected to connect to a mobile directory of every place nearby with Patch Places for Android. From local businesses and organizations to government offices and public parks…

•  8 Comments
• Photos (2)

Jean Whitney

12:38 pm on Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Hmmm, seems to be working from a Mac computer . . .   more ›

Food Basket Collection at Villa Duchesne Another Big Success

Thousands of pounds of non-perishable food items and materials for keeping warm go to families throughout metro St. Louis.

Administrator Krista Richardson of Villa Duchesne and her girls celebrated the end of the first semester by having another highly successful food basketball collection drive. Nearly 400 baskets were collected and distributed to a wide variety of charities, churches and non-profits throughout the region. In this stressed economy the requests for aid were greather than ever before. By 7:30 a.m. Wednesday cars were lined up, with donors dropping off huge baskets of food. They also donated blankets, gloves, sweaters, baby essentials and other items. A Christmas basket Mass was celebrated before the girls scattered for holiday break until the first week of January 2012. The Villa Duchesne basket food drive is among the most prominent metro St. …

• Photos (13)
• Videos (1)

'The Neighbors Are All Jewish, and They Put Up With Our Lights'

Annual Creve Coeur light display has raised thousands of toys for those in need.

You may have read that the annual Toys For Tots collection drive in St. Louis was facing a tough climb to meet a goal of gathering 290,000 toys this holiday season. READ NewsmagazineNetwork.com: Last minute call for help: Toys For Tots falling short on toys It certainly isn't for lack of trying on the part of a Creve Coeur man who has once again turned his neighborhood into a Winter Wonderland. The homeowners have requested anonymity out of respect to their neighbors, but if you head west on Ladue Road between Interstate 270 and Highway 141, let's just say you won't have trouble seeing it for yourself. What will you see when you get there? A 125,000 light display that will literally stop you in your tracks, as one passer-by said recently. …

• Photos (12)

Make Sure Your Gifts Arrive In Time for the Holidays

See our roundup so your gifts arrive in time for your loved ones to unwrap on Christmas.

It doesn't matter how great your Christmas gift is if it doesn't arrive on Christmas. Check out our guide to shipping gifts below. However, be sure to call the closest location or check the respective websites for specific shipment dates and prices. FedEx You can ship domestically through Christmas Day using same-day service, FedEx's website states. Check the website for specific international shipments. United States Postal Service Domestic express mail must be shipped by Dec. 22, the U.S. Postal Service's website states. International shipments must be sent between Dec. 19 and 21, depending on their destination. United Parcel Service Domestic shipments should be sent no later than Dec. 22. International shipment varies, but you should …

• Photos (1)

Moms Talk Q&A

Moms Talk: When Holiday Events Clash, Who Goes Where?

What's to be done when you have several kids and only one parent available to attend school holiday shows?

This week, we're asking St. Louis parents to play the role of event planners to tell us how they'd respond to the following situation. Suppose you have three kids in school. They are all involved in holiday concerts pretty much on the same day at the same time. You cannot get to them all. You want your spouse to cover, but a big sales meeting will prevent that from happening. So onto this week's question: What do you do to cover?

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Laura Falk

8:01 am on Wednesday, December 14, 2011

We have lots of extended family in the area, so I'm guessing we'd use them and videocameras! That would certainly be tough.   more ›

Winter Wonderland: Ladue's Tilles Park Shines With the Spirit of the Season

Open until New Year’s Day, visitors can enjoy an entire mile of holiday magic.

Now in its 26th year, the Winter Wonderland in Tilles Park boasts more than one million twinkling lights, making it a magnet for families from around metro St. Louis.  “It’s a family tradition,” said Justin Hirsch, Special Events Coordinator for St. Louis County Parks. Whether this is your first year to visit the Winter Wonderland or your 26th, you will find holiday scenes new and old. “The display changes every year,” said Hirsch. New and traditional sights New this year is a series of Christmas trees with lights that are synchronized to music. Also new are portions of the lighted tunnel and a snowflake effect that hangs over the roadway. Some of the previous years designs are in different locations this year. Look for the frog jumping …

• Photos (16)

Outsmart the Grinch: Avoiding Holiday Scams Is Part of the Festive Season

The St. Louis Better Business Bureau gives tips on how to avoid being duped by con artists and other seasonal Grinches in Ladue, Frontenac and nearby communities.

Shoppers are not the only busy folks during the holiday season. The season to be jolly and joyous also is the season for scammers, warn St. Louis Better Business Bureau officials. Here are five common scams to watch out for throughout December: 1.    Online shopping scams When a website offers big ticket items or electronics at prices that are too good to be true (a $20 iPhone 2, really?) be suspicious. There could be hidden costs.  The BBB advises: 2.    Snagging hot toys and gadgets online If stores sell out, people turn to the Internet to pick up items, often at sites like Craigslist or eBay, and pay steeper prices. But some sellers take the money and run. The BBB advises: 3.    Identity theft in stores When you’re loaded down with …

• Photos (2)

Santa Spotter: Where to Find The Big Guy In Town and Nearby

Patch rounds up 12 places you can visit Santa in the area.

Whether your kids are clamoring to see Santa Claus or afraid of that big fuzzy beard, here is a guide to help you find or avoid him this holiday season.   Just hover over a snowflake on the map to see Santa's location, and click on it for more event details. Hazelwood Santa Claus will visit with kids of all ages at the Hazelwood Community Center in White Birch Park, on Sat. Dec. 10 from 10:30 am until noon. Santa has also set up shop at the St. Louis Mills Mall in Hazelwood near the Play Area. Maryland Heights Santa Claus will visit Westport Plaza on Dec. 10 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. The event, co-sponsored by Westport Plaza and the City of Maryland Heights Parks & Recreation Department features: Santa will also appear at the Edward Jones …

• Photos (1)

Where Can You Find ( and in some places ) Cut Your Own Christmas Tree?

Patch offers up a guide and suggestions from the experts.

The National Christmas Tree Association offers tips on how to find the perfect tree: And if you’ve never cut down a tree, here are some guidelines: Try one of these nearby spots for your tree: Chaminade College Preparatory School Open November 26-December 19 (while supplies last) Hours: Monday-Friday - 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sundays 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. Address: 425 South Lindbergh Boulevard, Creve Coeur, MO 63141 Phone: 314-993-4400 Trees: Frasier Fir (other items, i.e. wreaths, available)   De Smet Jesuit High School Open November 25- December 18 Hours: Monday-Friday 3 p.m.-8 p.m., Weekends 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. Address: 233 N. New Ballas Rd. St. Louis, MO 63141 Phone: 314-567-3500 Trees: Frasier Fir, Balsam Fir (other …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Kalen Ponche

10:52 am on Wednesday, November 23, 2011

I have always wanted to do this... but we have a fake tree. Looks like fun though!   more ›