St. Louis

Let’s Get Glowing!

Last night was one of my favorite nights of the whole year…Garden Glow at the Missouri Botanical Garden!

I really think this is the best lights display in the area, and the Central Axis is the best of the best…I could watch it all night long (and I’m pretty sure my family thought that was my plan!)

I love how there are always new elements to the displays, like these butterflies:

And I think the gorgeous water lilies outside the Linnean House are new as well, but I’m not 100% sure. Either way, I really love them!

It’s always nice to see our favorite, familiar displays, too:

The projection on Tower Grove House was updated to a “12 Days of Christmas” theme:

It’s always nice to warm up by one of the fire pits:

One more look at the beautiful Central Axis before we go:

It’s truly the most wonderful time of the year!

Chickadee Thursday

Chickadee and I had fun at the St. Louis Thanks-For-Giving Parade last weekend…she was especially excited to see her old friend Fredbird!

Thanks-For-Giving Parade

Yesterday Chickadee and I took the MetroLink into downtown St. Louis to attend the Thanks-For-Giving Parade for the very first time!

It was a beautiful November day, and we had a good time. There were only two big balloons, and this Ameren lightning bug was adorable!

Of course there were area marching bands:

And can you even have a parade in the midwest without the Shriners in their funny little cars?

There were some clever floats, including a few that had confetti cannons:

And plenty of other groups representing various area organizations:

I was thrilled to see the giant Schnucks shopping cart:

And two local icons:

Of course the parade wrapped up with the big man himself:

I don’t know why it took me over 20 years to attend this parade…it might not be big like the Macy’s parade in New York City, but it was a lot of fun!

The Space Between

This space between buildings in the Soulard neighborhood of St. Louis is interesting to me both because of the ivy covering the building on the left and the way the building on the right juts out on the lower level.

The Space Between

I really like the space between these two buildings in the Soulard neighborhood of St. Louis for all of the trees and bushes growing there!

Oktoberfest 2025

Time to look back at all of the Oktoberfests we attended this year! I had a great time wearing my favorite Rare Dirndls various places and celebrating my heritage!

First Chickadee and I went to Grant’s Farm in mid-September. This was a first (or at least the first time in a long time) for us. We were there pretty early, so we didn’t get to see the entertainment, but we did share a pretzel and it was top-tier…super buttery and one of the best we had!

Next was Belleville Oktoberfest, which is always something of a disappointment to me…the pretzels weren’t even very good! But it was an excuse to wear a dirndl and walk down Main Street.

Third was my favorite local Oktoberfest in St. Charles, MO. The music and dancing were amazing and the pretzels were delicious! Plus, it seems like the most authentic one in our area (says the woman who has never been to Munich…).

We always celebrate Oktoberfest at home. I made our standard German feast of schnitzel and spaetzle and red cabbage, with Black Forest cherry torte for dessert (not to mention fondue with pretzels, pickles, and brats for lunch), and not to brag, but the pretzels at our establishment are pretty good, too!

For the second year, we went to Soulard’s Oktoberfest, and I have to say, I really love this (relatively) small event! The pretzels were only so-so, but the cheese sauce was excellent, and the brass band was one of our favorites!

I was worried we weren’t going to make it to Zootoberfest at the St. Louis Zoo, but we managed to get there on the final day. As always, the pretzels are the best in the region (and the beer cheese they serve with them is outstanding), and I got to hear a polka band, complete with accordion!

This was a really fun season of festing…I’ll leave you with Brasshaufen Brass Band (a group we enjoyed both in St. Charles and Soulard) doing one of my favorite Oktoberfest numbers. Prost!