Explore St. Louis

The Gateway City’s streets are paved with green this March in anticipation of St. Patrick’s celebrations in The “Too-Ra-Loo-Ra” Lou.

There are so many green-tinted festivities in St. Louis that it takes two St. Patty’s parades to satisfy all the Irish or “Irish-for-the-visit” revelers.

With more free attractions than anyplace in the Midwest and economical hotel packages, you won’t need a pot of gold to afford a March getaway to St. Louis.

Here’s a “Top of the Mornin’” and month-long list of Gaellic goings-on in the Gateway City this March:

If you love a parade, you’ll be twice as happy here: St. Louis’ Irish roots are showing with not one, but two St. Patty’s parades. The 37th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, one of the largest in the nation, marches through Downtown St. Louis starting at noon on Saturday, March 11. The green-strewn route begins at Broadway and Market Streets and continues west on Market Street to 20th Street. More than 100 units and 5,000 marchers including elaborate floats, bands, Irish dance troupes and character balloons make up the entertaining parade line. This year, plans include a special salute by the U.S. Army Green Beret Parachute Team who will descend over the parade route while carrying a large U.S. flag.

Run like the Snakes Out of Ireland: The 28th Annual Michelob ULTRA St. Patrick’s Day Parade Run precedes the Downtown parade on Saturday, March 11. More than 6,000 runners participate in the annual race that begins at 9:30 a.m. and covers a five-mile course. Runners, walkers and wheelchair racers of all ages are welcome. There are 11 different age categories for both male and female competitive runners, ranging from teens to 70-plus years. Register on-line. at http://www.active.com/.

It Takes a Village…: to offer Irish food, gifts and souvenirs, music, dance and a children’s play area. An Irish Village magically appears in Downtown St. Louis’ Kiener Plaza on Saturday, March 11 from 8:30 a.m. through 3:00 p.m. and during the Downtown St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Kiener Plaza is located on Broadway between Market and Chestnut streets.

Party On, Pat!..: or Jane or Mark or LaTonya. The conclusion of the March 11 Downtown
St. Pat’s Parade’s isn’t the end of the party. Irish celebrations continue with live music, food and refreshments at the historic Laclede’s Landing entertainment district along the Mississippi riverfront and at St. Louis Union Station’s festival marketplace at 18th and Market streets.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians' St. Patrick's Day Parade takes place on March 17, the official holy day of the legendary saint. The Irish heritage organization’s festive parade starts at 12:30 p.m. at Wells and Tamm Avenue near St. Louis’ famous Forest Park. A procession of lively bands, decorative floats and marching family clans travel through the streets of St. Louis’ traditionally Irish Dogtown neighborhood.

One of Ireland’s Own: Tour the St. Louis home of one of the Emerald Isle’s most successful emigrants – Robert Campbell. Born in County Tyrone in 1804, Campbell moved to St. Louis as a young man and became a famous fur trader, entrepreneur and the richest man in Missouri during his lifetime. The Campbell House Museum, at 1508 Locust Street in Downtown
St. Louis, was home to Robert and his family from 1854 until 1938. Hundreds of the Campbell’s original possessions including furniture, paintings, clothing and carriages take you back in time to see how a well-to-do Victorian family lived in St. Louis.

You say potato. I say spud: A céilidh is an Irish word that describes a party with music and dancing. You can tap your toes to the music of Dervish, a traditional Irish group from County Sligo in Northwest Ireland when they perform at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 18 at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri – St. Louis. From high energy reels to lilting Irish ballads, Dervish covers the gamut of Celtic musical genres. Or, celebrate at the music-filled Celtic Festival Céilidh at The Schlafly Tap Room, a brew pub at 2100 Locust, on Friday, March 31.

Wearin’ o’ the Green: Find a complete Irish wardrobe and a full Irish breakfast at The Kerry Cottage, St. Louis’ largest Irish import store at 2119 South Big Bend. The charming shop is brimming to its authentic thatched roof with all things Irish -- from Aran sweaters and Donegal tweed caps to shilleleghs and claddagh rings. Select from Irish music CDs, children’s christening gowns, toy sheep, Waterford and Belleek crystal and china for the perfect St. Patrick’s Day gift. The inventory also includes imported Irish specialty foods some of which is served up in the shop’s Tea Room. Homemade scones and brown bread are made fresh daily using the owner’s Irish-born mum’s personal recipes. Soups, sandwiches, salads and desserts are available from 9:30 a.m., Monday through Saturday. A full Irish breakfast of eggs, bangers (Irish sausages), Irish bacon, potatoes, grilled tomato, scones, brown bread and tea are served with advance reservations on Saturday mornings. Reservations: 314-644-6279.

Green Beer: Green beer is a Patty’s Day staple, but have you heard of a green brewery? Environment-friendly or “green” manufacturing practices are in use at the Schlafly Bottleworks and Schlafly Tap Room microbreweries in St. Louis. Minimizing waste, incorporating heat recovery devices, composting and using recyclable packaging are part of daily operations. Learn about “green” manufacturing during a free brewery tour at Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Avenue. Though it’s not emerald in hue, stout is definitely a favorite Irish drink. The Schlafly Tap Room at 2100 Locust Street, serves up three of the brewery’s stouts – Nitro Irish, Oatmeal and Coffee and more than 25,000 fresh oysters during its March 24 through 26 Stout & Oyster Festival. A Cod Fest is slated there on March 3 and 4 that features a Guinness Book of World Records-style challenge to create the largest single serving of fish & chips in Missouri.

For the Little People: Wee ones have plenty to celebrate in St. Louis. Kid-friendly attractions include the world famous Saint Louis Zoo; The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum; Purina Farms; hands-on fun at the St. Louis Science Center; whacky City Museum and so much more. Click on the “St. Louis for Kids” section of http://www.explorestlouis.com/ for details.

Every Day is Patty’s Day: You’ll feel transported to a pub in Dublin if you stop for a jar (drink) at John D. McGurk’s Saloon in St. Louis’ Soulard neighborhood. McGurk’s is renowned on both sides of the Atlantic for bringing native Irish musicians in for nightly traditional entertainment “sessions.” Don’t be surprised to have your Guinness pulled by a Donegal lad while listening to fiddlers and bodhran (drum) players fresh from the Ring of Kerry. The bar, at 1200 Russell Boulevard, also boasts a lovely outdoor garden and taste-tempting full menu. Another Soulard establishment with Irish flair, great food and liquid refreshment is Norton’s Cafe at 808 Geyer. Norton’s cozy fireplace provides a welcome cool weather retreat and the large outdoor dining area teems with people and good times during fair weather.

Snakes Alive!: St. Patrick may have driven the snakes out of Ireland, but the beautiful and exotic creatures have a happy home with other reptiles at the Herpatarium habitat at the
Saint Louis Zoo. The free zoo has recently been named America’s Top Zoo by Zagat’s U.S. Family Travel Survey. The Zoo is one of the many free attractions located within the lush green space of St. Louis’ historic Forest Park.

Green Houses: The Emerald Isle doesn’t hold the exclusive on Mother Nature’s many shades of green. A visit to the Climatron tropical rainforest, the giant geodesic dome at the Missouri Botanical Garden, is brimming with exotic green hues. The Garden’s other green houses are packed with punches of verdant color, too. The Temperate House is filled with Mediterranean flora and garden features like bubbling fountains in a tiled courtyard, fish ponds and even insect-eating plants. Fragrant with blooming camellias and gardenias, The Linnaean House is the oldest working greenhouse west of the Mississippi. At 2:00 p.m. on St. Patrick’s Day at the Garden, St. Louis historian Rev. William Faherty will speak and sign his book, "The St. Louis Irish: An Unmatched Celtic Community."

Irish Drama: The renowned Irish literary heritage also runs through the veins of Irish-Americans. “The Iceman Cometh,” one of playwright Eugene O’Neill’s most masterful works is brought to life March 16 through 19 and March 23 through 25 at St. Louis Regional Arts Commission Studio, 6129 Delmar Boulevard.

Green House, Too: The EarthWays Center is a century-old Victorian home that has been renovated to demonstrate energy-efficient systems, recycled products and sustainable lifestyle choices. Features of the home can be readily copied by visitors in their personal home renovation plans such as installation of energy-efficient windows, water-saving features and nature-friendly landscaping options. Tours are scheduled at 11:00 a.m., Noon, 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, March 18 and 19. The home, located at 3617 Grandel Square in St. Louis’ Grand Center arts and entertainment district, is operated by the Missouri Botanical Garden. Admission is $2.00.