Page 8 | West End Word June 29 – July 12, 2018

America’s Biggest Birthday Party

Fair St. Louis returns to the Arch grounds
America’s Biggest Birthday Party is AMERICA’S BIRTHDAY PARADE • 8:30 p.m.: Saint Louis Symphony
back at the Arch grounds – July 4, 6 and The 136th America’s Birthday Parade • 9:35 p.m.: Fireworks
7 – with music, food, fireworks and (VP Parade), produced by the V.P. of St.
more. Louis since 1878, will once again be held Friday, July 6
Fair Saint Louis is a free admission July 4 in Downtown St. Louis. This • 4 p.m.: Fair Saint Louis opens
event produced each year by St. Louisans year’s parade theme is “The US • 4:45 p.m.: Dirty Muggs
for St. Louisans and their guests Experience!” • 6:30 p.m.: Andy Grammer
celebrating the nation’s independence The parade will begin at the • 8:15 p.m.: Jason Derulo
each Fourth of July. intersection of 20th and Market Street • 9:35 p.m. Fireworks
The fair typically hosts hundreds of at 9:30 a.m. and proceed east on Market
thousands of attendees listening to until it ends at Market and Broadway. Saturday, July 7
music, playing in the Festival Zone, • Noon: Fair Saint Louis opens
checking out new products in the FAIR ST. LOUIS • 1:15 p.m.: Fire for Effect of the
Interactive Zone and viewing the Fair Saint Louis opens at noon on Missouri Air National Guard ridesharing services such as Uber and
nationally recognized fireworks Wednesday, July 4, at Gateway Arch • 2:45 p.m.: Danielle Bradbery Lyft at the southwest corner of the
displays each evening. National Park. Schedule and times are • 4:15 p.m.: Raelynn intersection of Chestnut and Broadway.
Fair St. Louis moved from its subject to change. All performances will • 5:30 p.m.: Salute to the Troops Bike/Metro: Visit www.
traditional home on the St. Louis take place on the Enterprise Rent-A- • 6:15 p.m.: Michael Ray fairsaintlouis.org/map-directions to see
Riverfront to Forest Park in 2014 to Car Stage. More information is available • 8 p.m.: Martina McBride maps of MetroLink stops and bike
accommodate construction on the at www.fairsaintlouis.org. • 9:30 p.m.: Fireworks parking.
Gateway Arch grounds. The fair’s move Park: Visit GetAroundSTL.com for
back to the Arch will coincide with the SCHEDULE TRANSPORTATION/PARKING a list of parking locations and make
grand opening of the new Gateway Arch Wednesday, July 4 Taxi: There will be a dedicated taxi reservations at www.
Museum on Tuesday, July 3, at noon. • 12:30 p.m.: Boeing Air Show stand at the southwest corner of the parkingreservationsoftware.com/pri/
The museum will offer free admission • 5:30 p.m.: Amelia Eisenhauer intersection of Market and Broadway. stlouis/fair-events.html.
that day. • 6:45 p.m.: Boeing Air Show Ridesharing: Fairgoers can access

New Book Details Changes At Gateway Arch

Reedy Press has released the second edition
of “The Making of an Icon: The Dreamers, the
Schemers, and the Hard Hats Who Built
the Gateway Arch,” by Jim Merkel.
With his fourth book from Reedy
Press, Merkel captures the spirit behind
the conception and construction of
one of America’s most distinctive and
beloved national monuments.
More than two million visitors
stand in awe at the Gateway Arch
each year, and the stories behind it
were unearthed in breathless detail
in Merkel’s first edition. Back with
even more lore and the addition
of beautiful color images, Merkel
brings new information on the
Arch grounds and museum to
this updated and revised second
edition.
Now expanded, his book includes more
stories compiled from interviews with the
visionaries, finaglers, protesters, and intrepid
workers who built the arch while one misstep
away from a fatal fall. Merkel’s book will help
readers appreciate the relentless pursuit,
innovation, and toil that raised the Arch to the
sky.
At 272 pages, the book is priced at $21.95.
Merkel is the author of “The Colorful
Families, friends and neighbors enjoy a
Characters of St. Louis, Hoosiers and Scrubby
recent July 4 celebration in the Central
Dutch:” “St. Louis’s South Side,” and “Beer,
West End. | file photo
Brats, and Baseball: German-Americans in St.
Louis.” Merkel is a regular contributor to the
Webster-Kirkwood Times, South County Times CWEA July 4 Parade
and West End Word.
Merkel will give a presentation and sign The Central West End Association
books on Saturday, June 23, noon to 2 p.m., at is hosting its annual 4th of July parade
Christopher’s Home Accents, 127 E. Argonne beginning at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July
Drive in Kirkwood. He will be at Circa STL 4.
Restaurant and Tavern, 1090 Old Des Peres The parade starts at the corner of
Road, on Saturday, July 14, from noon to 4 p.m. McPherson and Euclid avenues and
On Saturday, July 21, 3 to 4:30 p.m., Merkel will ends at Maryland Plaza.
be at The Novel Neighbor in Webster Groves, There will be face paint, jugglers,
7905 Big Bend Blvd. balloon animals and decorating
For more information and other area stations for bikes and wagons. Email
presentations, visit www.jimmerkelthewriter. jess@thecwe.org with questions or to
com. volunteer.

Ackermann’s Swim Program offers group lessons for 4-11 year olds in Little Sprouts Chinese Immersion Preschool, opening fall 2018 near 44
four heated pools with different water levels. Red Cross certified staff pro- and Hampton. Contact at littlesproutscip.com, email Olivia@littlesproutscip.
vides a non-competitive, safe environment. com or call 314-590-3888. Let’s grow bilingual.

Ackermann’s Swim Program Let’s Grow Bilingual!

Swimming Lessons in Li#le  Sprouts  Chinese  Immersion  Preschool  
Kirkwood since 1949
ages 4 to 11 Opening  Fall  2018  for  Ages  2-­‐5  
See website for dates and application ASPKirkwood.com Near  44  &  Hampton  
email: aspkirkwood@icloud.com • 1044 Curan Ave. Kirkwood, MO 63122 • 314.821.1070
Li#lesproutscip.com  
Monday through Friday • Hours 9:10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Enrollment by 1 or 2 week sessions • Drop off and Pick up at curb ENROLLING NOW (314)  590-­‐3888  
4 heated pools with different water levels