Enjoy “Grovefest” in Forest Park Southeast on Saturday
This coming Saturday, the 23rd of September 2006, is a chance to party in the emerging area increasingly known as The Grove. From the Grovefest press release:
Forest Park Southeast is one of the most exciting areas of rejuvenation in St. Louis. The neighborhood enjoys many of the best proximities in the metropolitan area. Conveniently located between both major highways, 40 and 44, Forest Park Southeast is also adjacent to the finest cultural institutions the city offers; the Saint Louis Science Center, The Missouri Botanical Gardens, Forest Park, and all of the Grand Center attractions. The Washington University Medical complex is within walking distance and the Saint Louis University is just around the corner. An envisioned bio-tech corridor is progressing just across highway 40 under the Cortex initiative. And established neighborhoods nearby such as the Central West End, Tower Grove, and Lafayette Square serve as excellent role models for this neighborhoods revitalization.
Manchester Avenue as the central corridor to Forest Park Southeast offers similar building character and streetscape potential to another popular local urban and culturally diverse destination “The Loop”. A retail, dining, and entertainment district is indeed emerging along Manchester in Forest Park Southeast and is on track to become an important asset for St. Louis in much the same way The Loop has. The Forest Park Southeast Business Association has begun the grassroots work of positioning this stretch of Manchester Avenue as “The Grove” derived from adjacent Adams Grove and Tower Grove.
With this progression in mind it seemed an opportune time to hold an annual festival that celebrates the city and the uniqueness of “The Grove”. Known as the Grove Fest, the annual neighborhood showcase invites the St. Louis metropolitan area to enjoy a day of food, music, art and activities with a spot light on what’s new and what’s coming to Forest Park Southeast.
Proceeds will support the effort to continue the revitalization of Manchester Avenue by funding sidewalk and curb repair/replacement, sidewalk enlargement for outdoor seating, improved signage, streetscape trees and lighting, street furniture, parking lot improvements, and traffic light enhancements.
On behalf of the Grove Fest Committee (dedicated business owners and stakeholders in Forest Park Southeast) we whole heartedly invite you to explore this exciting neighborhoods possibility and support the 1st annual Grove Fest. This year’s event takes place on Saturday, September 23rd on Manchester between Sarah and Boyle noon to midnight.
Manchester Road. Noon to midnight. Have fun!
Ill be there.
Almost walking distance.
Unfortunately, I will be out of town this weekend, but this should be a fun event. Unfortuantely, they did a horrible job promoting the event. The website didn’t have any useful info until last week.
The “Bud Light beer garden” link mentions “Saint Louis Brewery [in caps] craft beers on tap.” Also, listed sponsors of the event include “Bud Light/Lohr Distributing.”
Two comments/questions:
1. Is not “Saint Louis Brewery [in caps]” the corporate name of Schlafly beers? (answer, why, yes, yes it is). So, might one then assume that the “Bud Light beer garden” will have Schlafly beers on tap? (okay, I guess so).
2. Are Teamster drivers not still striking Lohr Distributing? (answer, yes — just a reminder, for those of you who still care about organized labor) . . .
R.
In spite of the obvious slap in the face to organized labor (and coming from co-sponsors like WashU, what would you expect?), this is a pretty exciting event.
A street festival on Manchester and Sarah would have been unthinkable 10 years ago. Shoot, even 5 years ago it would have been still iffy.
This is a clear case where the gay and lesbian community has made a dramatic contribution to the turnaround of a neighborhood. Sure, it’s still got quite a ways to go, but this is still positive.
Now, when will that darned Chouteau viaduct be reopened? Then you could actually walk to the festival from MetroLink under Grand.
I’d be a lot more likely to go to this if the organizers would post a schedule of which bands will be playing when.