COMMUNITY & CULTURE
Strauss Park
MEET ME IN…
B y T r i s h M u y c o - To b i n
S
pringtime in St. Louis entices one to explore and enjoy
what our fair city has to offer. And in the Grand Center
Arts District, there’s a plethora of activities that will keep
everyone engaged and entertained, day or night.
True to its catchphrase, “The Intersection of Art and
Life,” Grand Center is bustling and vibrant, hosting more than 1,500
cultural events that attract 2 million visitors every year. Once upon a
time - in the early 1900s, to be exact - the area had already established
itself as an entertainment destination. The magnificent landmark that is
now Powell Hall was St. Louis’ largest theater when it was built in 1925
by William Fox, who went on to build the Fox Theatre on the other side
of Grand Boulevard. The Fox Theatre’s opening night in 1929 featured
the film, “Street Angel,” at a cost of 50 cents per person.
But as residents began to move away from the city, interest in Grand
Center dwindled, and it fell into decline by the 1960s. A few years later,
redemption came in the form of the St. Louis Symphony when it made
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Powell Hall its home in 1966, breathing new life into the area. In 1982,
following a $2 million restoration, the Fox Theatre reopened, giving
the go-ahead for Grand Center to complete its rebirth, and once again
infuse art and life into a destination destined for that very purpose.
The month of May kicks off with a fairly new St. Louis experience: The
Tennessee Williams Festival, a five-day celebration of the works of the
city’s native son. In the mood for something out of the ordinary? Head on
over to the Third Baptist Church, where a Friday Pipes Organ Concert is
held throughout the month of May. The church’s 72-rank Kilgen-Möller
pipe organ - one of the largest in St. Louis - is showcased by a different
artist every week. Each half-hour concert is free and is followed by a
reception. Another must to add to your TGIF agenda is the aptly named
First Fridays in Grand Center, during which all galleries and museums in
the district are free until 9 p.m. Visit grandcenter.org to learn more about
Grand Center Inc., which was founded in 1982 to support the district and
the 45-plus arts organizations residing within its boundaries.
courtesy
of
Grand Center