COMMUNITY & CULTURE
MEET ME IN…
B y T r i s h M u y c o - To b i n
W
ith spring training 2018 on the horizon,
it’s not too early to think about Cardinals
baseball, and come Opening Day, the only
place to be other than inside Busch Stadium
itself, is Ballpark Village.
But nobody ever said Ballpark Village is exclusively for baseball
season. In fact, it has carved out its own imprint on the city’s social
scene - as a dining destination or a place to hang out and watch the St.
Louis Blues game on the big screen.
The St. Louis Cardinals recently broke ground on the second phase
of Ballpark Village. The $260 million, 550,000-square-foot expansion
will feature St. Louis’ first Loews Hotel & Co.’s Live! by Loews, which
promises an unprecedented upscale hospitality experience. There are
also plans for a 29-story luxury apartment tower, a health and fitness
club, downtown St. Louis’ first new Class A office building in 30 years,
and more restaurant, retail and entertainment space.
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GAZELLE STL
The additions will transform Clark Street into an unparalleled
destination for sporting events, dining and entertainment. Look for
some areas to open later this year, but the entire second phase of the
village is expected to be completed by 2019.
In the meantime, there is plenty to do during baseball’s “off season,”
including family-friendly movie nights, Hot Country Nights concerts,
and singing and dancing at the dueling piano bar. There’s also a charity
run that is becoming known for its cheeky, unabashed theme: Cupid’s
Undie Run.
Described as a “brief” run in the middle of a big party, Undie Run
participants cover about a mile at their own pace. Proceeds benefit
research to find a cure for neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that
affects one in every 3,000 people.
Runners are encouraged to come dressed in undies (or a costume),
and join a team, run solo, or just come for the party and raise money for
a good cause.
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Ballpark Village