On Wednesday, April 17th, DT2‘s After Hours happy hour is all about Virginia! Come to Urban Matter to find out about the growing momentum on Virginia and meet the neighbors and business owners working to rebuild and strengthen the Virginia corridor.

From Meramec to Bates, Virginia Avenue is home to over twenty businesses: Arch City Adventures, Bark Avenue, Brighter Futures Day Care, Callisto Comics, Decent Gallery, Duncan Architecture, Harbaugh’s Hair, Honey Bee Plus Preschool, Jeannine Vaughn Salon, Last Stop Market and Deli, Lou’s Barber, Neighbors Exterior Solutions, Paul’s Pizza, Pele Prints, Pop-Up Professionals, Quality Auto Repair, Sawhorse Studios, Starz Salon, Statues Plus, Supermarket Merchandising, Supreme Barber and Beauty, Urban Matter, and Vintage Bazaar STL. (If we missed one, contact us so we can add it to the list!)

Many of the more recently established businesses and residents are artists and makers. We have printmakers, ceramic artists, furniture makers, and more all within this stretch of Virginia. With many mixed-use properties along the street, there’s plenty of room for more live-work spaces for creative types.

Plus, hundreds of neighbors call Virginia Avenue home. With a wide variety of housing — single- or multi-family, cozy bungalows, and beautiful two and three story brick homes — there’s something for everyone on Virginia.

Come join us at 5:30pm on April 17th to meet the neighbors, enjoy some refreshments, and find out more about the exciting developments in this corner of Dutchtown. You can RSVP at our Facebook event page or just drop in.

Spring has sprung in Dutchtown! It’s a beautiful time of year to get out and enjoy everything Dutchtown has to offer.

Check our calendar regularly, we’re always adding more events. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for even more updates.

Virginia is for Dutchtownies

Learn more about who’s living, working, organizing, and thriving on Virginia Avenue at the next DT2 After Hours on April 17th at Urban Matter. While Urban Matter is outgrowing its humble storefront, many other businesses are just getting started on Virginia. Come see what’s going on with the artists and makers creating a scene in this corner of the neighborhood.

Clean Dutch!

DT2, the Dutchtown CID, the St. Anthony of Padua Men’s Club, and Urban Eats all invite you to help clean up the neighborhood on Saturday, April 20th. Celebrate Earth Day Weekend by sprucing up your corner of the neighborhood, or join groups mobilizing to clean along Meramec and Virginia. Gloves, bags, and tools are available — please contact us if you’d like to reserve some supplies for your block.

There’s sure to be more spring cleaning throughout April. Check out our neighborhood cleanups page to find more volunteer opportunities.

Gravois Park Easter Eggstravaganza

The Gravois Park and Benton Park West neighborhood associations hold their annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 20th at the pavilion in Gravois Park. The hunt begins at 10:15am. The Bubble Bus will visit at 10:45am, and photos with the Easter Bunny will be available for a $1 donation.

Neighborhood Meetings

Gravois Park meets on Tuesday, April 9th at 6pm. Their meetings are held in the old Jefferson Bank building at 3353 California, just north of Cherokee Street.

Dutchtown West meets on Wednesday, April 10th at 7pm. Join them in the banquet hall at Grbic Restaurant at Keokuk and Meramec.

The St. Cecilia Historic District Neighborhood Association meets on Tuesday, April 16th at 6:30pm. They meet at St. Cecilia School. Their April meeting will feature a Citizens on Patrol training.

Marine Villa meets on Monday, April 22nd. They meet in the back room at Irish Corner Pub at Cherokee and Lemp.

The Dutchtown CID Board of Directors meets on Thursday, April 25th. The meeting is at 5:30pm at Urban Eats.

Thomas Dunn Learning Center

Visit Thomas Dunn Learning Center‘s Art Lab Monday through Thursday from 3pm to 6pm. Work on your own piece or participate in the focus of the day. Art supplies are available along with tons of items to reuse and repurpose.

The South Side Youth Council meets every Monday at 4pm at Thomas Dunn. The South Side Youth Council aims to contribute to the South Side community by creating and organizing youth led programs and events.

Money Mondays continues through tax season. Learn basic household finance and money management skills to help get your new year on track. You can drop in from 4pm to 6pm on Mondays, or call 314-282-9314 to schedule a Wednesday appointment.

Sip ‘n Sketch is Wednesday, April 10th at 6:30pm. Everyone can participate in this life drawing class for all skill levels. Bring a snack and a beverage. Register by calling 314-282-9314.

Thomas Dunn hosts Respect! the Mother beginning Thursday, April 18th with an opening reception at 7pm. This show celebrates the Earth, the creative force, mothers, and the use of recycled and reclaimed materials for artistic purposes.

Around Dutchtown

Perennial‘s Earth Month membership drive is underway. It’s a great time to become a member and receive discounts on classes in paper making, knitting, embroidery, and more. Find tons of classes at Perennial’s website.

St. Anthony of Padua hosts two more fish fries this month before the season ends. Friday, April 5th is Cajun Night, and on Friday, April 19th the regular menu is back. Grab a plate and a margarita with your neighbors.

Intersect Arts Center offers a six week drawing class for both beginners and advanced students starting Thursday, April 11th. Instructor Yowshien Kuo will provide personalized guidance as students learn to add form and value to their drawings. The course is $40.

The Juice on Cherokee is refreshed and ready to relaunch, and they’re also opening their new Galeria Obscura art space. Come by on Saturday, April 13th for food, live music, and fresh art.

The Dutchtown South Community Corporation holds their monthly Community Empowerment Committee meeting on Wednesday, April 24th at Thomas Dunn Learning Center. Help shape DSCC’s goals through community input and participation. Dinner and child care are provided.

There’s something going on every day on the Dutchtown calendar! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for even more Dutchtown news. You can also sign up for our mailing list for occasional updates.

Top photo and many of the other photos on DutchtownSTL.org by Paul Sableman.

Thank you to all who made our Go Dutch! real estate mixer on March 20th a huge success! Hosted by DT2, Dutchtown South Community Corporation, and the Dutchtown CID at Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis‘s new headquarters on South Grand, we brought lots of real estate professionals and potential new neighbors together to learn what Dutchtown has to offer.

In case you missed our presentation, you can find it here. We talked about some of the big investments coming to Dutchtown like the Chippewa Park project, Louisiana Calm Streets, and the Dutchtown CID. We discussed the real estate market (there’s something for everyone!) and how DT2 can help sell houses in the neighborhood. We also had guests to help homebuyers find mortgages, down payment assistance, and energy efficient solutions for their new homes.

If you’d like a stack of Go Dutch! brochures for an open house, real estate office, or other public location, get in touch and we can supply them. And if you saw a shirt you wanted to pick up, they’re available in our DutchtownSTL Shop.

We’d like to thank our sponsors and participants one more time: USA Mortgage, Insight Title, Anthony Duncan Architecture, RE Source, Crawford-Butz Insurance, Prosperity Connection, EarthWays Center, DT2, DSCC, the Dutchtown CID, and Habitat for Humanity. Thanks for helping to produce a great event!

We’re working to build the Go Dutch! page into a resource for homebuyers and real estate professionals to learn more about the market here in Dutchtown, so stay tuned!

Believe it or not, spring is around the corner! It’s about time to get out and enjoy the neighborhood.

Make sure to check our calendar throughout the month as we’re always adding more events. And you can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for even more updates.

Cherokee Creole Carnivale

Looking for an alternative to Soulard Mardi Gras? Try the first annual Cherokee Creole Carnivale on Saturday, March 2nd beginning at noon. Bring the family to Love Bank Park for kids’ activities like face painting and Mardi Gras mask making. Enjoy live entertainment all along Cherokee Street. And several bars and restaurants will offer food and drink specials. Participating venues include Artist Art, Earthbound Beer, Fortune Teller Bar, The Juice, Teatopia, and the Whiskey Ring.

Go Dutch! Real Estate and Homeownership Networking

DT2, Dutchtown South Community Corporation, the Dutchtown Community Improvement District, and Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis come together to present Go Dutch!, a real estate and homeownership networking happy hour on Wednesday, March 20th at Habitat’s headquarters on South Grand.

Real estate professionals and potential homebuyers can learn more about the real estate market in Dutchtown. Meet and hear from neighbors about what makes Dutchtown a great place to live. Learn about financing options for first-time homebuyers. There will also be plenty of food and drink and some great door prizes.

Fish Fry Season

It’s that time of year again! Fish Fry Fridays are back for Lent. Stop by St. Anthony of Padua‘s Fish Fry in their Parish Hall across from the church on Meramec on March 8th, March 22nd, April 5th, and April 19th starting at 4pm. Make sure to arrive early as they will sell out. For something a little different, try Cajun Night on April 5th.

St. Cecilia’s Parish also hosts their famous Mexican Fish Fry every Friday in Lent (except for Good Friday). In addition to traditional fish fry fare, St. Cecilia’s also offers up meatless Mexican dishes like chiles rellenos, and of course margaritas.

Neighborhood Meetings

The Gravois Park Neighborhood Association meets on Tuesday, March 12th at 6pm. Their monthly meetings are held at the old Jefferson Bank building, 3353 California, just north of Cherokee Street.

The Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association meets on Wednesday, March 13th at 7pm. Meetings are held every second Wednesday in the banquet hall at Grbic Restaurant at the corner of Keokuk and Meramec.

The St. Cecilia Historic District Neighborhood Association meets on Tuesday, March 19th at 6:30pm. They meet at St. Cecilia School, which can be accessed from Alaska between the church and the school.

The Cherokee Street Community Improvement District meets on Thursday, March 21st at 5:30pm at Artist Art, 2643 Cherokee.

And the Marine Villa Neighborhood Association meets on Monday, March 25th at 7pm in the back room at Irish Corner Pub on the corner of Cherokee and Lemp.

Dutchtown CID Meetings

The Dutchtown Community Improvement District holds their monthly Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, March 28th. The meeting is at 5:30pm at Urban Eats.

In addition to the monthly board meeting, the CID’s three committees will also have their quarterly meetings in March. The Maintenance and Beautification Committee meets on Thursday, March 7th Wednesday, March 6th, 5:30pm at Tony Duncan’s office at 4527 Virginia. The Marketing and Development Committee meets on Thursday, March 14th, 6pm at Crusoe’s. And the Safety and Security Committee meets on Thursday, March 21st, 5:30pm, also at Crusoe’s.

Thomas Dunn Learning Center

Drop in at Thomas Dunn Learning Center‘s Art Lab Monday through Thursday from 3pm to 6pm. Work on your own piece or participate in the focus of the day. Art supplies are available along with tons of items to reuse and repurpose.

The South Side Youth Council meets every Monday at 4pm at Thomas Dunn. The South Side Youth Council aims to contribute to the South Side community by creating and organizing youth led programs and events.

Money Mondays continues through tax season. Learn basic household finance and money management skills to help get your new year on track. You can drop in from 4pm to 6pm on Mondays, or call 314-282-9314 to schedule an appointment on Wednesdays.

Also throughout tax season, the St. Louis Tax Assistance Program is back at Thomas Dunn this year. Schedule a Wednesday appointment to get free tax preparation assistance.

On Wednesday, March 13th, Thomas Dunn hosts Sip ‘n Sketch, a life drawing class for all skill levels. Participants learn using a variety of materials and methods. Supplies are provided, but bring your own beverage and snack.

More Neighborhood Events

Election Day is Tuesday, March 5th. City voters go to the polls to make their primary selection for President of the Board of Aldermen, and voters in the 20th Ward will also choose their next Alderman. Find your polling place on the City’s website.

ReVitalize St. Louis is launching into 2019 with a happy hour at Earthbound Brewery on Tuesday, March 5th. Get your tickets now for a unique opportunity to tour Earthbound’s underground operations, and raise a glass to ReVitalize’s efforts to back the City.

STL-STyLe hosts an all ages, family-friendly open mic session, FreeSTyLe, on Saturday, March 9th at their shop on Cherokee Street. Musicians, poets, comedians, and everyone else are welcome to come show off their skills.

The Dutchtown South Community Empowerment Committee meets on Wednesday, March 27th to help create and implement DSCC’s programs to improve the neighborhood. The meeting is at 6pm at Thomas Dunn Learning Center. Dinner and childcare are provided.

Intersect Arts Center hosts Off the Frame, an introduction to weaving by hand, on Saturday, March 23rd and Saturday, March 30th. Participants will learn the basics of weaving and working with fibers and go home with their own woven wall hanging at the end of the two session workshop.

Intersect is also offering an Intro to Jazz Dance workshop on Saturday, March 30th. Learn basic technique, explore the movement style, and put it all together to create a piece of choreography. Register at Intersect’s website.

Find something to do every day on the Dutchtown calendar! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for even more Dutchtown news. You can also sign up for our mailing list for occasional updates.

Top photo and many of the other photos on DutchtownSTL.org by Paul Sableman.

Valentine’s Day is coming up, and there’s plenty of ways to show your love here in Dutchtown! Find the perfect gift or plan a special night right here in the neighborhood.

Dinner and Drinks

Looking for dinner plans? Local landmark Feasting Fox is offering their annual Valentine’s Day dinner on February 14th, featuring a filet mignon for two and several other special entrees. Make sure to enjoy with a bottle of wine from their extensive list. Call 314-352-3500 or email thefeastingfoxstl@gmail.com to make a reservation.

If you’re just looking for some drinks and snacks, Earthbound Beer is getting all gussied up with low lights, tablecloths, and candles. Visit the brewery on Valentine’s Day evening for some unusually romantic but always fun vibes.

The night before Valentine’s, Cherokee Street event space Artist Art hosts Wine at First Sip on Wednesday, February 13th. Enjoy a romantic atmosphere as you tantalize your taste buds with delicious wine and the perfect pairings to make you fall in love. Vegetarian and vegan options will be available. Purchase tickets here.

Flowers and Gifts

Urban Buds Farm in Dutchtown fell victim to the recent polar vortex and lost most of their flowers, rendering them unable to sell flowers on the busiest day of the year. But you can support your local farmers and help them recover by purchasing gift certificates for future purchases at the Tower Grove Farmers Market. Help a neighborhood business now and get beautiful, fresh, locally grown flowers later!

If you need flowers in hand, Flowers and Weeds offers bouquets for pickup or delivery. They’ll also be offering a singing telegram delivery service available anywhere in the city or county. Visit their website or call 314-776-2887.

Thorn Studio, co-located with Urban Eats Café at Meramec and Virginia, will be offering grab-and-go flowers with extra selections available on Tuesday the 12th, Wednesday the 13th, and Thursday the 14th. Stop into the café to get yours. You can also order ahead of time through Thorn’s website for pickup or delivery. Or you can find them at Tryst on Cherokee (more on that later).

Not into flowers? Try Urban Matter at 4704 Virginia for one-of-a-kind gifts, jewelry, housewares, and greeting cards. The Firecracker Press on Cherokee Street also sells handmade greeting cards, posters, journals, and other gifts. If your lover loves St. Louis, STL-STyLe is the place to go for all sorts of City-centric gifts. Looking for a unique, vintage gift? Check out the resale shops on Meramec in Downtown Dutchtown or the antique shops of Cherokee Antique Row. And don’t forget about Merb’s for all your chocolate covered strawberries and other candies.

Date Nights

Date nights aren’t just for couples! Grab some friends, classmates, coworkers, or just treat  yourself to some of these fun events in the Neighborhood.

South Broadway Art Project hosts Clay Date Night every Friday, plus a special engagement on Valentine’s Day evening. Learn the basics of pottery wheel throwing and make a couple of pieces for that special someone. Feel free to bring snacks or beverages. Find out more and purchase tickets here.

Thomas Dunn Learning Center‘s monthly life drawing class feature a guest artist and guest model for a special Valentine’s edition of Sip ‘n Sketch. Join award-winning local artist Mark Swain and cover model Brooks Johnson on Wednesday, February 13th at 6:30pm. Materials are provided and all skill levels are welcome. Sip ‘n Sketch is free, but please register in advance by calling 314-282-9314.

On Tuesday, February 12th, join Perennial and Earthbound Beer for an evening of crafting at the brewery. Make Valentines for your sweetie using reclaimed and upcycled materials while enjoying some of Earthbound’s tasty brews. $1 from every beer sold will go to fund Perennial’s educational programs.

Tryst on Cherokee

Shop local for your Valentine’s gifts with Tryst on Cherokee, a 10-day multi-store artists and makers pop-up boutique. Fifteen artists in media ranging from photography to jewelry will be participating in the pop-up hosted by Bohème Atelier, Ruby Francis, and Tracy’s Treasures, all on the Antique Row end of Cherokee.

Tryst’s launch party is Thursday, February 7th at Bohème Atelier located at 2308 Cherokee. Just come by, or purchase a VIP pass and get a bracelet, wine, cocoa, and a cupcake bar, personal shopping assistance, and vendor discounts.