The edges of Saint Louis University are clearly defined by numerous, intricate gates.
But did you know that an entire city, full of things to do, exists right outside of those gates? It’s true-our fabled city is called St. Louis and, while many students have heard stories about it, I have found that most of them rarely experience it.
Causes for this inexperience are varied: lack of transportation, low funds, outright laziness-you name it, I’ve heard it. But the months of July and August are simply too full of opportunity for these excuses to stay relevant. Enormous numbers of the activities that fill these months are close to campus, incredibly fun and best of all, free!
For example, did you know that you can find free seats-every night-at summer productions of the Muny Theatre in Forest Park?
The Muny’s amazing line-up this summer includes My Fair Lady, Miss Saigon and Fiddler on the Roof. Also on the line is a show called 90 Years of Muny Magic, an incredible medley of all the shows performed at the Muny since its opening. Considering price versus the experience, it would be ridiculous to pass up these shows.
While the Muny is awesome, St. Louis has much more to offer, especially for students. few blocks away from SLU’s campus is the Gateway Arch, and during the summer the Arch plays host to the famous “Live on the Levee” concert series.
The impressive performances will occur every Friday and Saturday through July, including music from O.A.R., OneRepublic, and, I kid you not, Boyz II Men. This, too, is free! Though the concerts have been held “Live off the Levee” this year due to flooding, it is the perfect summer experience.
For those who are lacking transportation, may I introduce you to Grand Center? Grand Center is located only two to three blocks away from SLU. It includes the Fox Theater, Grandel Theater, Sheldon Concert Hall, Jazz at the Bistro, Powell Symphony Hall and more than 12 museums and galleries with constantly changing exhibits, among other venues.
While Grand Center is always packed with fun activities, the summer is especially entertaining and geared toward those with a limited budget. During the summer, Grand Center hosts Cinemania, an outdoor film festival with a different theme each year.
Every Friday at 7:30 p.m. this summer, a different musical movie will be projected onto a building in front of the lot west of Grand Boulevard and next to the Bruno David Gallery on Washington Avenue.
Some of this summer’s picks: Funny Girl, West Side Story and (my personal favorite) Moulin Rouge. Cinemania is easy on your wallet and your gas tank. So grab some lawn chairs, pack a snack, and go watch a free movie on a Friday night.
Did you know that the Botanical Gardens is free on Wednesdays and features free jazz concerts? Have you explored Union Station? What about Bellerive park? And I’ve only skimed the surface of what this city has to offer. There is so much to do and see, and summer is the perfect time to experience it all!
Log out of Facebook, turn off the TV, walk out the gates of SLU and see the city. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
Jo Mohan is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences.
