Here come the holidays! In case you don’t already have too much going on this month, there’s lots of events on our calendar. Follow DutchtownSTL.org on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for all the latest Dutchtown happenings.

December starts off with a busy Saturday the 1st on Cherokee Street, and there’s plenty more going on throughout the rest of the month.

Print Bazaar on Cherokee

The 2018 Print Bazaar on Cherokee Street is on Saturday, December 1st from 10am to 6pm. Over 100 artists set up shop at more than two dozen businesses along Cherokee from Virginia to Lemp. It’s a fantastic opportunity to find one-of-a-kind gifts while supporting local artists and shops.

Antique Row Cookie Spree

The 35th annual Cherokee Antique Row Cookie Spree is also on Saturday, December 1st. Your favorite shops on Antique Row will be offering unique treats and hot drinks. There will also be live music, carolers, pictures with Santa, and more.

Flowers and Weeds Winter Bazaar

At the other end of Cherokee, Flowers and Weeds hosts their annual Winter Bazaar. A variety of vendors will have handmade and vintage goods available for sale, in addition to all the gift options Flowers and Weeds has to offer. Plus you can grab your wreaths and trees.

Dutchtown Holiday Passport

You’ve already been out and about collecting your stamps and racking up savings, but you surely have more holiday shopping to do! The Dutchtown Holiday Passport gets you special deals at nearly two dozen shops, restaurants, and bars in Dutchtown. Get your Passport stamped at ten or more shops for chances to win great prizes like a 42-inch TV, gift baskets, and more!

Downtown Dutchtown Holiday Shop Hop

Saturday, December 15th is the Downtown Dutchtown Holiday Shop Hop, and it’s a particularly good day to collect your Passport stamps! While you’re getting those great deals with your Passport, you’ll also be able to enjoy treats from the various shops and hear holiday songs from carolers. Kids can get their photo taken with Santa Claus at the Twice Blessed Annex. And Urban Eats will host a variety of pop-up vendors, as well as potter David McBeth crafting bowls for the Empty Bowls Project. Speaking of Empty Bowls…

Empty Bowls 2018

Urban Eats Cafe’s annual Empty Bowls Project to support St. Anthony’s Food Pantry kicks off on Sunday, December 2nd with a sharing celebration soup and salad lunch. Visit the cafe, make your donation, and receive a handcrafted bowl which you can then fill with a variety of soup and chili.

On Saturday, December 15th, during the Dutchtown Holiday Shop Hop, artist David McBeth will have his potter’s wheel on site to create the bowls he generously donates. Make a donation and fill your bowl with soup and chili from Urban Eats’ staff’s favorite recipes.

The Empty Bowls finale coincides with the DT2 Holiday Party on Wednesday, December 19th. With a recommended donation of $15 or more you’ll get a bowl and a voucher to fill it at Urban Eats. And about that holiday party…

DT2 Holiday Party

DT2‘s annual Holiday Party is Wednesday, December 19th at the Liermann Loft above Urban Eats. Guests are asked to bring a shareable dish and consider making a minimum $15 donation to the Empty Bowls Project. All proceeds go to St. Anthony’s Food Pantry.

In addition to food and plenty to drink, there will be live music and you can get your photo taken with Santa, Snowy Chloe the Christmas Chihuahua, and Santa’s Spicy Elves and Holiday Hunks.

A reservation is required. You can RSVP and make your donation at Eventbrite. The holiday party is also a great time to establish or renew your DT2 membership.

South City Sipsters Sparkling Sampling

Back again this year and just in time for the holidays, it’s the popular South City Sipsters Sparkling, Champagne, and Cider Tasting at the Feasting Fox on Wednesday, December 12th. Try nine sparkling wines or champagnes plus three ciders. Take advantage of special to-go pricing and stock up for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Tickets are $30 and available through the Facebook event page.

Dutchtown CID Meetings

The committees of the Dutchtown Community Improvement District hold their quarterly meetings in December. The Maintenance and Beautification Committee meets Thursday, December 6th at 5:30pm at Anthony Duncan’s studio in the old Stork Inn. The Marketing and Development Committee meets Thursday, December 13th, 6pm at Original Crusoe’s. And the Safety and Security Committee meets on Thursday, December 20th at 5:30pm, also at Crusoe’s 6:30pm at Urban Eats, following the CID board meeting.

The full Dutchtown CID Board of Directors continues to meet monthly on the fourth Thursday of each month. In December that’s on the 27th at 5:30pm at Urban Eats Cafe however in December the Board will meet on the third Thursday, December 20th, 5:30pm at Urban Eats. The Safety Committee meeting will immediately follow.

Thomas Dunn Learning Center

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.

Every Monday at 7pm the Thomas Dunn hosts Practicing Mindfulness: Introduction to Meditation. Discuss and practice different meditation techniques. Come early for dinner or stay late for Laughter Club.

TDLC’s Winter Artists Market is Saturday, December 8th from 10am to 4pm. Handcrafted paintings, sculptures, jewelry, and other art will be available for sale. There will also be a puppet show by Jeanie Bryan Puppets at 11am.

The Thomas Dunn Young Professionals Board hosts a Paint and Sip Party on Wednesday, December 12th. Come learn how to serve the community, or just enjoy some beer, wine, and painting for all skill levels.

For more events and activities at Thomas Dunn, check out their calendar.

You can find more events on the regularly updated Dutchtown calendar. Let us know if you’ve got an event coming up. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for even more news, events, and everything else Dutchtown. And don’t forget to sign up for the DutchtownSTL mailing list!

Top photo courtesy of Paul Sableman.

Save money and win prizes when you shop, eat, and drink in Dutchtown this holiday season! Grab your Dutchtown Holiday Passport to unlock savings at over 20 participating shops and restaurants throughout the neighborhood.

Visit resale shops, bars, restaurants, and more to pick up your Passport, get it stamped, and start saving! Each participating business has a special discount or offer for customers who show their Passport. We’ve got a list of locations, hours, and deals.

Collect stamps from ten or more different locations to be entered in prize drawings for a 42″ TV, gift certificates, and other prizes! You have from now until Christmas to collect your stamps, and the more stamps you collect, the more entries into the drawing you get!

Once you’ve completed your Passport, submit it on or before December 31st. You can submit online, in person, or via mail. Visit this page for more information on submitting your Passport.

We’re heading into the holidays in Dutchtown! There’s plenty to keep you busy this season. Read on, bookmark our calendar, and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to stay up to date on everything happening in Dutchtown.

Dutchtown Holiday Passport

Shop, eat, and drink in Dutchtown this holiday season to save money and win prizes! Get your Dutchtown Holiday Passport at any one of over 20 locations to unlock savings and special deals. Collect stamps from different locations to be entered into prize drawings for a 42-inch TV, gift cards, and other prizes. Find a list of participating locations and learn more right here. Passports will be available by November 10th and you can get yours stamped through Christmas.

Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday is November 24th. It’ll be an especially great day to head out and collect those passport stamps and support the local businesses that make our neighborhood unique.

Neighborhood Meetings

The Gravois Park Neighborhood Association meets Tuesday, November 13th at 6pm. They meet in the former Jefferson Bank building, 3353 California just north of Cherokee.

The Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association also meets on Tuesday, November 13th. Their meeting is at 7pm in the banquet hall at Grbic Restaurant. In November, DWNA is collecting donations for St. Anthony’s Food Pantry. For every three non-perishable items donated you’ll receive an extra ticket for the attendance prize drawings.

There is a Cherokee Street CID meeting on Thursday, November 15th at 5:30pm at Nebula. Residents, business owners, property owners, and anyone else with an interest in Cherokee Street are welcome to attend.

The Dutchtown CID Board of Directors meets Thursday, November 29th, 5:30pm at Urban Eats. Dutchtown CID’s meetings are open to the public.

Perennial: Lost + F(o)und and More

Perennial‘s eighth annual Lost + F(o)und fundraiser is Friday, November 9th at Willow downtown. The fundraiser features hands-on projects, lots of pie, live music, silent auctions, and more. Get your tickets and support Perennial’s ongoing creative reuse education right here in our neighborhood.

Perennial also offers lots of classes and workshops throughout November. Make your own hand warmers, mini candles, or wine cork trivet. Learn how to use tools like table saws and lathes. Transform common materials with dyes, make your own greeting cards, and even learn how to repair drywall and plaster. And that’s just a sample of what Perennial has scheduled for November. Check out their class schedule for more.

Thomas Dunn Learning Center

Celebrate the Day of the Dead at Thomas Dunn Learning Center‘s Dia de los Muertos art exhibit and reception. Enjoy art celebrating the Mexican holiday honoring the deceased along with food and music.

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.

Every Monday at 7pm the Thomas Dunn hosts Practicing Mindfulness: Introduction to Meditation. Discuss and practice different meditation techniques. Come early for dinner or stay late for Laughter Club.

Healthy Cooking for the Holidays is a fun way to incorporate some new recipes into your holiday celebrations while feeling good about feeding your family and friends healthy, delicious food. Three sessions of the class meet on Tuesdays at 5:30pm, on November 6th, 13th, and 20th.

The Witnessing Whiteness discussion continues through November. Witnessing Whiteness is a program that allows people to come together to do work around racism in a supportive, non-threatening setting, learning to speak about race and racism, and exploring white privilege. The group’s final three meetings are on Thursdays at 6pm on November 8th, 15th, and 29th.

Also Around Dutchtown

The Gravois Park Neighborhood Association will be sprucing up the park on Saturday, November 3rd from 9am to noon with the help of some college volunteers. Join the crew to help clean up the pavilion, prepare plants for winter, and tidy up the rest of the park.

The Cherokee Street Jazz Crawl is Saturday, November 3rd. Take in over a dozen local acts during afternoon and evening sets. Pick up some new moves at free dance classes. Featured performers include Miss Jubilee, the Gaslight Squares, Lil’ Dylan and the All New Revue, Mat Wilson, and the St. Boogie Brass Band.

Tenth Life Cat Rescue hosts Cats n’ Mats Yoga on Wednesday, November 7th at 6pm. Cats n’ Mats is an open-level yoga class to raise funds for Tenth Life. Get your tickets at Eventbrite.

KAMP hosts an author talk and book signing with Kathy Schrenk, author of Best Hikes With Kids: St. Louis and Beyond on Saturday, November 10th at 1pm. Learn how to share your love of the outdoors with your children with 82 routes designed for toddlers to grade schoolers.

The Cherokee Street Second Saturday Gallery Walk happens on November 10th. A variety of galleries and spaces present exhibits, openings, and talks.

On Tuesday, November 13th, Intersect Arts Center is offering a free dance workshop for teens ages 13–17. The workshop focuses on jazz dance and is open to all skill and experience levels.

DT2 After Hours is at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore on Wednesday, November 14th. Come check out the store, meet your new neighbors, and enjoy some refreshments.

Earthbound Beer celebrates their fourth anniversary on Friday, November 16th at their Cherokee Street brewery. Celebrate with special beers, brewery tours, music, and food from PokeDoke. Get advance tickets and schedule your tour through the Facebook event page.

Intersect Arts Center‘s Weihnachtspyramide art and craft fair begins on Saturday, November 17th. This opening event will feature some of the participating artists, along with food and drink. The sale goes on in the gallery through December.

If you’re looking for Thanksgiving dinner plans, let the Feasting Fox do the work for you. They’ll have a menu of traditional Thanksgiving fare along with some German favorites. Visit the Facebook event page for the full menu. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 314-352-3500.

The Dutchtown South Community Corporation Community Empowerment Committee meets on Wednesday, November 28th. The meeting is at 6pm at Thomas Dunn Learning Center. Dinner and child care are provided. The Community Empowerment Committee is working on issues relating to housing justice and tenants’ rights.

There’s even more on the Dutchtown calendar, and we’re always adding events throughout the month. Let us know if you’ve got an event coming up. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for even more news, events, and everything else Dutchtown. And don’t forget to sign up for the DutchtownSTL mailing list!

Top photo by Paul Sableman.

There’s Halloween fun for the whole family around Dutchtown! Enterprising kids have a lot of candy in their future with a couple of trunk or treats on Meramec along with multiple businesses on Cherokee opening their doors for trick-or-treaters.

St. Anthony’s Trunk or Treat

St. Anthony of Padua hosts their annual Trunk or Treat from 6pm to 7:30pm on Halloween night. Last year over 700 kids attended! Kids under 13 and accompanied by an adult get a hot dog, a drink, and tons of candy!

Henry Funeral Trunk or Treat

Henry Funeral and Cremation Services hosts their first Trunk or Treat on Halloween from 5pm to 8pm. Henry is located at Meramec and Nebraska.

Trick or Treat on Cherokee Street

Come trick or treat on Cherokee Street! Pick up your candy bag and map at Love Bank Park. Kids in need of a costume can come to the tent at Cherokee and Texas. Over a dozen businesses along Cherokee will be handing out candy. You can also take in a family-friendly scary movie at Artist Art for a donation of $1 or a non-perishable food item.

There’s grown-up fun to be had too! Have yourself a Halloween drink while checking out the establishments below.

Halloween at the Fortune Teller Bar

Visit the Fortune Teller Bar on Halloween night for pop-up shops from BLK MGK WOMAN Apothecary + Healing Arts and Heavenly Sinful Delights LLC, new fall house cocktails, and a new collaboration beer from three Cherokee Street businesses, FTB, Teatopia, and Earthbound Beer.

Exercise Your Demons at Cherokee Street Gallery

Head to Cherokee Street Gallery for a Halloween art and photography show and stick around for live bands starting at 8pm.

Creaky Crow Anniversary Party

Creaky Crow Curious Antiques celebrates their first year in business on Halloween night. Join them for free drinks, door prizes, a photo booth, and more.

Halloween at the Haunt

Halloween in Dutchtown ought to be spent at Dutchtown’s only Halloween-themed bar, The Haunt at Alaska and Delor. There’s always something spooky being served up along side cold, cheap beers.

Whatever you do on Halloween night, be sure to stay safe and have fun!

The 2018 Dutchtown Karneval of Curiosities was a smashing success! The biannual blowout to raise funds for DT2 was held on Wednesday, October 17th at the beautiful Bluffs on Broadway overlooking the Mississippi River.

Thank You To Everyone Who Made the 2018 Dutchtown Karneval of Curiosities Possible!

And thanks to Chip Smith of Chuck Cleveland Film for the amazing video!

The 2018 Dutchtown Karneval of Curiosities was a smashing success! The biannual blowout to raise funds for DT2 was held on Wednesday, October 17th at the beautiful Bluffs on Broadway overlooking the Mississippi River.

The money raised from the Karneval will go to the Dutchtown CID Safety and Security Fund. And with the help of our neighbors who purchased tickets and our corporate sponsors, we raised a nice chunk of change!

Corporate Sponsors

Over a dozen businesses from the neighborhood and across the city contributed to the success of the 2018 Dutchtown Karneval. We ask you to support businesses that support our neighborhood! Our sponsors included AT&T, The Bluffs on Broadway, Campbell Security Group, Garrett Paper, Kevin Epperson of Shelter Insurance, Midwest BankCentre, Niebling Auto Body, QuikTrip, Raineri Construction, Rasmussen Dickey Moore Trial Counsel, RE Source Real Estate Agency, Thorn Studio Floral Design, and U-Haul of St. Louis.

Food Sponsors

We had an abundance of fantastic food thanks to over a dozen restaurant and catering sponsors. Based on all the empty platters and serving trays, you can’t go wrong with our terrific food sponsors — Cecil Whittaker’s Pizza, Ces & Judy’s Catering, Chimichanga’s, Domino’s Pizza, The Feasting Fox, Imo’s Pizza, Keeton’s Double Play, Merb’s Candies, Original Crusoe’s, Queen’s Nails (they can cook too!), Russo’s Catering, Sister Cities Cajun & BBQ, and Urban Eats.

Silent Auction Donors

Many individuals and businesses offered up gifts and experiences to our Silent Auction. Lots of guests got to try out the Arsenal vs. Manchester United foosball table from Arcades Market but only one lucky winner got to take it home! Other donating businesses included Thomas Dunn Learning Center, Third Degree Glass Factory, Kaldi’s Coffee, Petco, Upper Limits Climbing Gym, as well as a variety of artists, performers, and instructors.

Volunteers

A group of dedicated neighbors helped make the Karneval possible through months of planning, coordinating, soliciting donations, and pushing tickets, then working like madmen to get everything set up the day of the event. Thank you to all of the volunteers who contributed to the success of the event!

We’d also like to extend a special thanks to artist Paul Webb, who painted and hung all of the beautiful canvases and backdrops you saw at the Karneval.

Of course we’d also like to thank all of the performers and service staff who brought the night together. And one more big thank you to the Bluffs on Broadway, who have generously donated their space (and their booze!) for several years running.

Volunteer Tom Lampe chronicled the event for us. All the photos you see here are courtesy of Tom, and you can find dozens more photos from the Dutchtown Karneval of Curiosities on his Flickr page.

Thank you so much to everyone who came out and everyone who made this amazing night possible!