A look at Plains Indians, in words and music (Mar. 31 to Apr. 5)

Today kicks off American Indian Awareness Week at Washington University, the highlight of which is the pow wow on Saturday (Apr. 5). There are also other educational events planned, including a lunchtime food tasting Thursday (Apr. 3), movie night, poetry reading and lectures about this year’s theme, American Indian military veterans. The online event flier gives dates, times and locations.

Saturday’s pow wow begins at noon with gourd dancing, followed by a grand entry at 1 p.m. (there’s another at 6 p.m. too). If you’ve never seen an American Indian dance competition, be prepared to stay awhile — you’ll be captivated by the clothing and the rhythms. The category names alone are evocative: for the women, for example, there’s fancy, jingle, buckskin, cloth and golden (for dancers over age 55). Like the men, the kids have their own divisions, one for ages 6 to 15 and another for “tiny tots” who promise to be cute indeed. The dancing is intertribal, which means members of tribes from across the Plains will be there.

An MC explains what’s going on for the uninitiated (if this includes you, check out this link for a very straightforward description of what to expect), and whenever the dancing begins to pale for the kids, take them over to the youth activities area (1:30 to 6 p.m.) or to the arts and crafts area (open from 10 a.m. on).

All of Saturday’s activities take place at the field house. To learn more, take a look at the press release from the week’s sponsor, the Kathryn M. Buder Center for American Indian Studies at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work.

Children’s garden reopens, with more for less (Apr. 1)

This is going to be a great week for free outdoor spring activities — there’s way more going on than I can do justice to! But I’ll do my best, starting with the opening of the Doris I. Schnuck Children’s Garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden on Wednesday (Apr. 1). It’s free all that first day, as well as every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon for St. Louis City and County residents. (The free admission times are new this year — and we should all shout out a big thank you to whoever made the decision!  Regular admission is $3 per child for ages 3 to 12; adult admission is included with regular garden tickets, and kids under 3 get in free.)

The two-acre wonderland the botanical garden has carved out for kids is fun just to poke around in, but it can also be a very educational experience. Indoors, there’s a nature classroom full of creative play ideas with natural materials. Outdoors, every ecosystem in Missouri is represented; the fauna is native to Missouri (and the invasive species are “locked up” in the jail so kids start to become aware that not everything with green foliage is a good plant to have around, particularly when it comes to waterways). Often, as with the rope bridges and the water play area, kids won’t even realize the motor skills they’re learning — for them it’s all about the fun.

Because the area is made for running and climbing, it can be tricky to keep tabs on all your kids at once, particularly if you bring along a stroller and want to try to keep an eye on it too. I tend to leave our stroller in the entrance area, especially if the kids will be on the rope bridges. If we’re headed for the water play area, the stroller makes a little more sense (to carry the inevitable change of clothes).

The children’s garden has an official grand opening on Saturday (Apr. 5), with a big Missouri adventure theme and many special activities between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. During the rest of the season (which runs until Oct. 31), there are special activities Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to noon and Saturdays from 1 to 3 p.m. The children’s garden itself is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In the larger garden, this is also a busy week: The half-hour narrated tram tours resume, and there’s an Arbor Day tree sapling giveaway on Friday (Apr. 4) starting at 9 a.m. at the Kemper Center for Home Gardening. (Species include shumard oak, bald cypress and blackgum).

As in years past, the garden offers free admission for adult St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, when the grounds open at 7 a.m. Children under 12 receive free admission all the time (except to the children’s garden; see above). For detail, try out the garden’s recorded answer line at 314.577.9400.

Cut the cost of feeding your kids (Tuesdays)

Tuesdays are bad for business in the restaurant industry. In the course of my five years covering the food world, I learned that if owners could simply erase one day of the week from their calendars, Tuesday would be gone.

This is good news for families, because in their effort to lure customers, restaurants tend to offer their best deals of the week on Tuesdays. For example, last week a brave friend took the kids and me out for supper at City Diner, where we indulged in half a fried chicken for $3.99 — with sides of mac and cheese, whipped sweet potatoes, creamed collard greens and a roll. We could have had half a pound of meatloaf instead for the same price, but fried chicken makes a better doggie bag (’cause even with S. sharing my plate, there’s no way I can eat half a chicken and all the fixin’s in one sitting!).

The chains dread Tuesdays too, which is probably why that tends to be kids’ night (individual franchisees may not participate, so be sure to call ahead and confirm). Krieger’s Sports Grill, for example, offers a free meal for a kid under 10 with an adult meal purchase. Participating Fazoli’s restaurants set aside an entire section of the restaurant for families and feeds the young’uns for 99 cents between 5 and 8 p.m. Participating Lone Star Steakhouse locations let up to two kids eat free from the kids’ menu with one adult entree all day Tuesdays and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. (Two other exceptions to the Tuesday rule are Culpepper’s and Buffalo Wild Wings, which have their kids’ night on Mondays.) Other chains with Tuesday kids’ deals include Denny’s, Ponderosa and Perkins; for a detailed list, visit the St. Louis Kids’ Web site.

Upscale and independent restaurants usually don’t offer free meals for kids, but they very often have early bird discounts — and they’re very often available all week long. Because they open at 5 p.m. and very few customers wander in for the next hour, it’s possible to get great deals like a $19.95 dinner at Kemoll’s or a $13.95 dinner at Baldo’s or a $12.95 dinner with wine at Bevo Mill. Even the lovely An American Place downtown has a three-course market menu for $29 before 6:30 p.m.

With the rising cost of food pinching restaurants on one side and belt-tightening consumers goosing them from the other, it’s good to have these meet-in-the-middle options where they fill tables and you save money.

Still not enough eggs? (Mar. 29)

You’d think that three egg hunts would be enough for one kid, but no — after extensive hunting in the cold and the snow, M. is primed for more. Luckily, the Artists’ Guild egg hunt was postponed due to the lousy weather last weekend. It’ll take place this Saturday (Mar. 29) from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in Oak Knoll Park. The age range for the hunt, the petting zoo and the crafts is 1 to 8 (there are separate hunts for various ages). There is a $6 charge to attend ($5 for Clayton residents), but that’s a small price to pay for one last egg hunt. At least, that’s what M. tells me.

To reserve a spot, call the Welcome Center at 314.290.8500; for general information, call 314.290.8508 or visit the Guild’s web site.

Easy no-rise pizza crust (anytime)

My kids are no fans of Boboli — when I suggest pizza for supper, M. invariably asks if we can make the crust ourselves. This conversation usually takes place around 5:30 p.m., which would make a traditional pizza dough out of the question. There wouldn’t be enough time for the yeast to do its business. Luckily we live in St. Louis, land of the thin-crust pizza, and this recipe (modified from an old Better Homes and Gardens cookbook) is fast and easy and very versatile. Best of all, it makes enough for two 12-inch pizzas, so it’ll feed a hungry family. Or, if you’re a not-so-hungry small family, keep the extra half in the fridge (in a lightly oiled, covered container) for a few days until the urge for pizza strikes again.

M. prefers his pizza with cheese only, no sauce; his dad likes a white pizza with ricotta and mozzarella cheeses and zucchini. Whatever your preference, be sure not to overload the crust with toppings, as it will get soggy in the middle.

Thin-crust pizza

Crust:

1 pkg (2 ¼ tsp.) active dry yeast

1 cup warm water (105-115° F)

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, divided

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. salt

Dissolve the yeast in warm water in mixing bowl. With a wooden spoon, stir in one cup of the flour. Add the olive oil, sugar and salt and stir until smooth. Add the remaining flour and stir vigorously 20 strokes. Let rest, covered with a damp towel, for 5 minutes.

Topping:

Shredded mozzarella cheese (the amount is up to you — we use roughly 1 1/2 cups)

1 8-oz. can tomato sauce

1 tsp. Italian seasoning

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

Optional toppings: A small scattering of two or three of these: prosciutto or Canadian-style bacon, browned ground beef or sausage, pepperoni, sliced artichokes, olives, fresh basil leaves, diced tomato, sliced onion, sliced mushrooms, chopped red pepper, goat cheese, pineapple, etc.

Grated Parmesan cheese or Provel cheese (just enough for a thin layer over the toppings)

Preheat the oven to 425° F. Sprinkle cornmeal on a heated pizza stone and place it in the cool oven (or grease a 12-inch pizza pan or cookie sheet, but don’t put it in the oven). With oiled hands, divide the dough in half and shape one half into an 11-inch circle on a floured wooden pizza peel or on the pan. Sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese. Spoon on half the sauce. Top with the other ingredients and sprinkle with Parmesan or Provel cheese. If using a pizza stone, slide the crust from the peel onto the hot stone. Bake 20-25 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the toppings are cooked through.

If you’re making two pizzas, repeat the steps above; you’ll have enough sauce to cover both crusts. If you’re only making one pizza, the extra sauce will keep alongside the dough in the fridge for a couple of days.

To make calzone, press out the dough as above, but cover half the dough with cheese, sauce and toppings, using slightly less than you would for a pizza. Carefully fold the empty half over, sealing the edge with a fork. Bake 25-30 minutes.

Many paths to solving the surplus energy crisis (Mar. 29, 30 and anytime)

One of M.’s classmates is a veteran hiker — we’re talking like 3 miles at a time, which is pretty good for a preschooler — because it’s one of the best ways his parents have found for burning off his surplus energy before it accumulates and spills out destructively at home. I love to hike too, and I’m not sure why we haven’t gotten our own kids more into it. So this spring I’ve resolved to take advantage of the many opportunities in the St. Louis region to hit the trails. Here are two that are inspiring me right now:

The St. Louis County Parks Department has instituted a 30/30 Hikes program that’s masterfully simple: 30 trails that take around 30 minutes to complete (a good kid-friendly distance, although if your kids are anything like mine the hike will take longer thanks to all the objects of interest along the way!). Some of the routes may be familiar — like the one through Laumeier Sculpture Park — but others may get you to see places you drive past often from a whole new pedestrian perspective. You can download the routes at the department’s Web site, or go in person to any of the county’s rec centers or the Clayton headquarters and buy a copy for $10. I would say it’s not worth making the special trip, except that you’ll want to pick up a punch card too — each trail has a punch at the trailhead, and if you collect them all, you can redeem the punch card for a 30/30 Hikers patch. And you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’ve hiked 55 miles (unless you cheat and just punch the card, which no self-respecting parent would do …). For details, call 314.638.2100.

The second inspiration comes from the Sierra Club, which has a couple of hikes planned this weekend. (Check the Web site for many more). On Saturday (Mar. 29) organizer Bob Herndon (314.961.4811) leads a hike at Pickle Springs Natural Area near Ste. Genevieve, part of the LaMotte sandstone complex (home to the oldest sedimentary rock in Missouri). During the hour-and-a-half hike, participants will see stone formations, bluffs, canyons, springs, and a glade — and they’ll lunch near Dome Rock.

On Sunday (Mar. 30) the site is the Hilda Young Conservation Area south of Eureka, a combination of open grasslands and rocky terrain that makes for an easy outing. (Based on a review at an online trail-rating site, it sounds like early spring is the best time of year to visit this spot.) To sign up, contact Margot Kindley at 636.458.4063.

For ideas on other routes, here are a few good links for local hikers:

• From a health-and-fitness expo site.
• From the book 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: St. Louis Guide Book.
• From the above-mentioned trail rating site Trails.com.

Once upon a time … (Mar. 25)

Magic penguins, blood-thirsty pirates, heavy snows and kidnappers … a night out with the St. Louis Gateway Storytellers is a feast for the imagination.  You’ll find the group’s members performing individually all over town, spinning yarns at kid-centric venues like City Museum, at malls, at parties and at festival, but the place to hear a full evening of tales is the group’s every-other-month meeting.

The next one is Tuesday (Mar. 25).  The storytelling begins at 7 p.m., after the 6 p.m. business meeting, and is free to the public.  The location is the Crown Center, 8350 Delcrest Drive, St. Louis. There’s no need to register, but if you have questions, call 314.997.0250 or visit the club’s homepage.  The site also has an extensive list of storytellers for hire.

If you like what you hear, check into the 29th Annual St. Louis Storytelling Festival (April 30 to May 3).  More than 50 regional storytellers take part at venues across the region, from Laumeier Sculpture Park to the Gateway Arch.

African film festival (Mar. 26 to 30)

One of the best movies I’ve ever seen was a South African film, Tsotsi, that came out in 2005. The story of a cruel, murdering street thug who steals a car with a baby inside (shooting and paralyzing the mom) and then attempts to keep the child alive in a completely inept way made me cry like crazy.

So I have very high expectations for the upcoming African film festival at Wash U. (Mar. 27 to 30). Best of all, the organizers are inviting families with older children to come to all the 7 p.m. screenings. There’s a list of movies online, as well as directions for finding Brown Hall on the Wash U. campus. Each of the four nights pairs a shorter film with a longer one, including many documentaries, and there will be discussion sessions led by African students from the social work department following the screenings.  All the shows are free, and if you’d like more information you can call 314.935.7879.

The festival also includes two free daytime shows at the Saint Louis Art Museum: L’Arbre aux Esprits, the story of a fight to save a baobab tree (geared for elementary kids); and Hop, about a soccer-watching date gone awry (middle school and high school kids). School groups had to register by Mar. 1, but individuals and parties of no more than five people can simply show up (Mar. 26 at 10 a.m. for L’Arbre aux Espirits and Mar. 27 at noon for Hop). After each movie, the audience will split into four groups and docents will lead them to look at African artworks in the museum that deal with the films’ topics.

For information on this great opportunity, call Rhonda at 314.771.3694 ext.2.

The seeds are in the ground (anytime)

M. and I couldn’t wait any longer — we planted our lettuce, spinach, radishes, peas and chard last week on the only nice day when it was warm enough and dry enough to sow something without getting too caked in cold, wet dirt. I felt a little guilty about letting S. sleep through the whole thing, but he’ll be more excited about planting the seedlings later on anyway.

If you’re planting a garden with your kids this year, good for you! This is definitely the right time to begin in St. Louis. (Tomorrow’s the first day of spring — yay!) And if you’re just starting out, there are a zillion online resources. Lots of them are aimed at schools or students, but here is one that’s for families, with honest information about what to do (and what to skip) and whether to make the garden a chore for the whole family, a chore for the mom, or something in between.

In our house, the garden is a chore for the mom. The dad hates yardwork (although, to his credit, he does mow the lawn … but I still maintain that he destroyed the edger on purpose so he could skip that chore all last summer). We have three and a half raised beds, which is about the right size for our family of four. We also have a huge herb garden that came with the house, stocked with a few beautiful perennial herbs and many, many more annuals that mysteriously make their way onto my flats each spring at the garden store. M. is a real sucker for that place!

No matter if you’re doing pots on the patio, installing raised beds or signing up for a community garden plot in your neighborhood, you’ll want to pay attention to a couple of factors when buying seeds or seedlings: when to plant (usually it’ll be either as soon as the ground is thawed in the spring, or after the danger of frost has passed); how much room the mature plant will need and whether it requires staking (for tomatoes, beans, peas and other plants that may not be able to support their own weight); the number of days until it bears produce; and its tolerance for heat (some plants simply die in the heat, others bolt, go to seed and get really bitter).

The Missouri Botanical Garden’s Kemper Center for Home Gardening is a great resource — their volunteers helped me identify all the unfamiliar herbs in my yard the summer we first moved in — but it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the huge amount of info they can provide. Online, I find the gardening tips calendar and the problem/pest calendar most helpful.

Garden centers tend to be overworked and not hugely helpful in terms of answering questions during the peak planting weeks, especially in late April and May, so it’s not a bad idea to visit now and ask some questions of the staff. Some of our favorites include Rolling Ridge Nursery in Webster Groves, Bayer Garden Shop on Hampton in St. Louis and also out in Imperial, and Garden Heights Nursery in Richmond Heights. Once the weather warms up, check out the selection of herbs and veggies at the Kirkwood Farmers’ Market stall run by Summit Farms — I’m always surprised by the unique varieties I find there.

On a completely unrelated note, tomorrow (Mar. 20) is Wear a Sweater Day in honor of what would have been Mr. Roger’s 80th birthday. Check out this promo video by the actor who played Mr. McFeely.

More eggs, more candy (Mar. 22)

I have word of two more Easter egg hunts on Saturday — just in case your kids haven’t loaded up on enough chocolate bunnies, jellybeans and Peeps already!

One is in the park and playground area just south of Soulard Farmers’ Market on Saturday (Mar. 22) at 1 p.m.  Unfortunately there’s no Web site about it, and the posters plastered around the neighborhood stick pretty much to the basics of date and time … the only detail of note is that participants must be under age 10.  As always, bring your own basket.

The other is at the St. Charles County Youth Activity Park on Saturday (Mar. 22) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  The 25-acre skateboarding/rock climbing/trail hiking complex provides some challenging terrain for the older kids (age groups cap out at 12 on this one) — and one of the special draws is an “extreme” egg hunt for skateboarders and rollerbladers. However, each hunt has a limited number of slots, so you’d best reserve a spot by calling 636.561.4964 between noon and 8 p.m. For specific times and rules, check out this online news brief or visit the park district’s Web site.

And, if you missed out on the adults-only egg hunt down at Jefferson Barracks, here’s another strategy for recapturing the magic of childhood egg hunts: the beer hunt.  The idea comes from my extended family in Oregon, where it’s a long-standing tradition.  On Easter morning when the whole clan congregates for brunch, the adults organize an egg hunt for the kids, who then reciprocate by hiding cans of beer all over the yard for the adults to find and consume.  Decorating the cans beforehand is optional.