When you think about hotbeds of Japanese-American culture, St. Louis probably doesn't spring to mind. But it should, because the Gateway City is home to one of the largest Japanese gardens in America, the 14-acre expanse at the Missouri Botanical Garden.

And every Labor Day weekend for the last 32 years, the garden has hosted one of the premier Japanese festivals in the US.

The three-day Missouri Botanical Garden Japanese Festival, August 30-September 1, features a wide array of Japanese cultural activities, including martial arts demos, Zen enlightenment workshops and everybody's favorite, sumo wrestling. Ten bucks gets you admission to everything.

Related Stories:
· Missouri Botanical Garden Japanese Festival [Official Site]
· Labor Day Travel Coverage [Jaunted]
· Culture Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Ryan Rumberger, Missouri Botanical Garden] ]]> BS 2008-08-22T12:00:14-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/1/154239/7324

Still need something to do this weekend? Get to St. Louis pronto--and don't worry about packing anything, since the World Naked Bicycle Ride starts at 9 pm Saturday. The 10-mile ride starts in Tower Grove Park and proceeds to Atomic Cowboy on Manchester, where there will no doubt be lots of slippery nipples.

Race organizer Mariah Pittman says the event doesn't have a thing to do with sex:

There are more ways to transport yourself than a car. This is about getting people to think oil dependency.

That said, the cops will still roll through to make sure riders aren't completely naked. After all, it's the Midwest--not Miami.

Related Stories:
· Ride Organizers Advise Cyclists to Cover up [STL P-D]
· Cyclists to Leave Clothes Behind [STL P-D]
· Nude Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of a ride in London: biig_jee]]]> pbb 2008-08-01T15:45:02-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/21/72255/3787

After you've seen the exhibit at the National Building Museum, check out these Eero Saarinen masterpieces.

Everyone has seen the Gateway Arch, at least in pictures, but few realize that it's part of the larger Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. Designed by Saarinen, the structure raises 630 feet above the ground and is also 630 feet wide at its base. Besides being instantly recognizable, it's also the largest memorial in the United States.

Although Saarinen passed away four years before the arch was completed, it stands today as probably his most famous achievement. After his death, designer Richard Bowser incorporated a tram to take guests to the top of the arch, something that Saarinen felt was important to add. We're glad he did: Without the unique elevators, the only option to get to the top would be 1,000-plus stairs.

Related Stories:
· Jefferson National Expansion Memorial [Official Site]
· Architecture Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Wikimedia]]]> kjb 2008-07-21T11:45:20-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/7/172725/0961

So that's what Midwest Airlines is doing with those extra planes! Senator Barack Obama was flying to Charlotte, North Carolina when his chartered MD-80 diverted to St. Louis.

Turns out the safety slide in tail of the aircraft deployed in flight and gave pilots some trouble steering. (Guess someone forgot to cross-check!) The plane landed at Lambert International without further incident.

The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee took the in-air drama in stride:

Anytime a pilot says that something's not working the way its supposed to, then, you know, you make sure you tighten your seat belt. Everything seemed under control, the pilots knew what they were doing.

Related Stories:
· Mechanical Glitch Grounds Obama's Plane [CNN]
· Midwest Charter Makes Unscheduled Stop [WTMJ]
· Obama Jokes with Media after Unscheduled Stop [CBS News]
· Airline Death Watch: Are Midwest's Cookies Endangered? [Jaunted]

[Photo: Cubbie_n_Vegas]]]> pbb 2008-07-07T17:30:13-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/12/7/123741/128

We've told you where to ice skate in New York and in LA, but that hardly helps when you're stuck visiting the relatives in the Midwest this holiday season. Fortunately, St. Louis' Forest Park--also home to the zoo and science center--has one of the country's largest outdoor ice rinks.

While beginners are more than welcome, you'll also see a good amount of talent at Steinberg Rink. Speed skaters love the large surface, and athletes with local connections have appeared in every winter Olympics since 1968. If you still need a little practice before you go to the Games, admission to the ice is 6 bucks and skate rentals are $2.50.

One more thing: Locals say Steinberg is one of the most romantic spots in the city, and it'll be open late for lovers on Christmas Eve. But don't swoon too soon if your date asks you to a post-skate dinner at Lucas Park Grille.

Related Stories:
· Steinberg Rink [Official Site]
· Steinberg Skating Rink: A St. Louis Tradition [KWMU]
· Ice Skating coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Herkie]]]> pbb 2007-12-07T14:00:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/10/23/154749/64

St. Louis may be known for its Budweiser, but back before "beechwood aged" there was Lemp Beer. Named for the German immigrant Johann Adam Lemp, his family soon took over the town with a steady supply of lager. He put some of his profits toward what's now one of the nation's most haunted homes: Lemp Mansion.

After a long run at the top of the city, the Lemp family tumbled into decline after its heir apparent, Frederick Lemp, died a mysterious death in 1901. His father, William, still stricken, shot himself in 1904. As Prohibition closed the family brewery in 1919, the remaining Lemps started killing themselves in an almost systematic manner. In 1970, Edwin Lemp, with his family gone, died of natural causes at the age of 90.

The mansion itself, built in the 1860s, is now a restaurant and inn, where paranormal investigations regularly take place. Tours happen on Monday nights, and you can rig up your own ghost hunt by booking one of the four guest suites. If previous guests are to be believed, you'll want to watch for flying glassware, orbs of light, doors slamming shut and apparitions of Lemp family members who still haunt the halls.

Related Stories:
· Lemp Mansion [Official Site]
· Account of a Night at Lemp Mansion [Your Ghost Stories]
· Haunted Travel coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2007-10-23T16:00:01-05:00 38.593191 -90.215880 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/9/6/125548/0727

Waiting in security lines is bad enough without enduring that canned remix of Piano Man playing over the airport PA. So Lambert-St. Louis International Airport has just fired up a classical music series in its main terminal.

Set up above the concourse C/D security checkpoint, local harp maestra Sue Druckenmiller serenaded passengers yesterday afternoon. More piano and harp are on the schedule for the future to provide "soothing music for the passengers in line," a spokeswoman says.

So far, concerts are happening twice a week, but the airport hopes to schedule more shows, particularly during the holidays. Hey, if the flights aren't leaving on time, at least you can catch some live music.

Related Stories:
· Lambert-St. Louis International Airport [Official Site]
· St. Louis Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: mattdork]]]> pbb 2007-09-06T13:00:01-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/