In Full Bloom: April 2-8

The replica of the Mastodon skeleton, the original is in London

On Saturday, I journeyed south to Imperial.  Just thirty minutes south of downtown in Imperial, is Mastodon State Historic Site.  In 1839, excavations of the park uncovered a Mastodon skeleton.  Today there is a museum dedicated to the Mastodon and the people of the Clovis culture who later excavations revealed were also living there at the same time.  After going through the museum you can follow the wildflower trail down to the site of the bone bed.  There is also a bird garden and a museum annex for children.

Mayapples in bloom along the wildflower trail

The Mastodons and Mammoths exhibit will be at the Missouri History Museum through April 15th.  Go by the Missouri History Museum and get the full story of the mega-fauna, then get out of town and head to Imperial to see where the bones were uncovered locally.

The Contemporary Art Museum must have some understanding of how hard it is to parent and maintain a your eye for art.  On Tuesday (and the first Tuesday of every month for that matter), they hold a Stoller Tour.  Parents and their crying babies are invited from 9-10am for complementary coffee and pastries. 

" Fiddler on the Roof " is playing at the newly renovated Peabody Opera House from April 3-8.  Make a date night out of it and try Mango Peruvian Cuisine's pre-theater menu.  From 4-6pm, Monday- Saturday, Mango offers a three course dinner for only $20.  It's a great deal at a great restaurant!

At the Crossroads: Exploring Black Identity in Contemporary Art at the St. Louis Art Museum is in its last week.  If you haven't had a chance to see this exhibit which six African American artists yet, may sure to go by this week.

Happy Arbor Day!  What better way to celebrate than with the free tree give away?  Friday, you can pick from a variety of trees, get tips on how to plant your tree from experts at the Missouri Botanical Gardens.

Dogwood Blossoms at Mastodon Historical Site