Metro-east calendar: Farmer’s Markets, virtual events in St. Louis & curbside fish fries
Noon Thursday, May 7, is the deadline to appear in next week’s What’s Happening. We must receive your event in writing with a contact phone number for questions. Due to the large number of submissions, events may run only one time in print, will be edited and appear in the week before the event date.
Email: lifestyle@bnd.com. Mail to: Lifestyle, Belleville News-Democrat, P.O. Box 427, Belleville, IL 62222-0427. Questions, call Jennifer Green at 618-239-2643.
Farmers’ Markets
▪ Swansea Farmers Market — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, May 7. Rural King parking lot, 2801 N. Illinois St., Swansea. Behind Burger King. Fresh local produce, baked goods, jams, jellies, honey and more. Social distancing guidelines will be in place. Signs will be posted. Have monetary denominations of $10s, $5s and $1s available; no change will be given. Wear masks, keep your distance. facebook.com/SwanseaFarmersMarketInc
▪ Maryville Drive-Thru Farmers’ Market — 5-6 p.m. Thursdays. Maryville Village Hall, 2520 N. Center St., Maryville. Pre-orders and pre-pay only. Customers place orders through Facebook before noon on Thursday and pay online. When arriving for pick-up, give your name, remain in your vehicle, then drive up to each farm. Your order will be placed in your trunk/vehicle. facebook.com/MaryvilleILFarmersMarket or maryvilleilfarmersmarket.org
▪ Monroe County Farmers’ Market, Waterloo — 7:30-11 a.m. Saturdays. The Family Video parking lot, 100 Plaza Drive, Waterloo. Items available include bedding plants, bread, jams and much more. Social distancing practices will be present with additional tables to provide space between vendor and customer. Vendors will be wearing masks and sanitizing hands and surfaces frequently. Vendors will be handling their produce for customers. facebook.com/Monroe-County-IL-Farmers-Market-316315321779010
▪ Alton Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market — 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Parking lot at the corner of Landmarks Blvd. and Henry St., Alton. Drive-thru only. Fresh produce, plants, meat, cheese, eggs, honey, baked goods and other edible products will be available. Pre-ordering is encouraged. Orders can be made from your car window. Electronic payment preferred. Cash accepted; bring small bills. Vendors advised not to give change. facebook.com/AltonFarmersMarket
▪ Vine Street Drive-Thru Market — 5-6 p.m. Tuesdays. O’Fallon Station parking lot, O’Fallon. Pre-orders and pre-pay only. Orders placed with individual vendors online. Vendor availability and order deadlines vary. For details and information: ofallonstation.com/vendors-vine-street-market-drive-thru or facebook.com/vinestreetmarketofallon
▪ Land of Goshen Market — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, May 14 (for pick-up). 222 Artisan Bakery, 222 Main St., Edwardsville. Online orders taken Friday, May 8 through Tuesday, May 12. Order at goshenmarket.org/shop. Call 618-659-1122 for curbside pick-up. Delivery is available in most of the Edwardsville and Glen Carbon area. goshenmarket.org/shop
Events
▪ Missouri Botanical Garden: Visit the Garden Virtually — Now online at YouTube.com. Enjoy springtime views of Garden grounds and see what’s blooming from your home. missouribotanicalgarden.org
▪ Saint Louis Art Museum: Visit From Home — Now online at slam.org. Listen to audio guides from current and past exhibitions, watch videos on exhibition and collection features, read blog posts of new perspectives on art, and much more. Watch daily for a work of art from the collections of the Saint Louis Art Museum. slam.org
▪ Saint Louis Zoo: #BringTheStlZooToYou — Now online. Although the Zoo is currently closed to the public, they can follow the Zoo on social media. See the Zoo from different points of view via live webcams at stlzoo.org/livewebcams. Follow the hashtag #BringTheStlZooToYou or visit stlzoo.org/about/blog.
▪ American Red Cross Blood Drive — 3-8 p.m. Thursday, May 7. Millstadt Community, St. James Catholic Parish and School - Gym, 412 W. Washington St., Millstadt. Only blood donors will be permitted at blood drives. All donors will be asked to have their temperature taken before being permitted into the drive. For an appointment: redcrossblood.org, sponsor code Millstadt, or 800-733-2767.
▪ STL History Live — 6 p.m. Thursday, May 7; 2 p.m. Friday, May 8; and 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 12. Online via Zoom. The Missouri Historical Society is offering a series of free online programs featuring fascinating stories about St. Louis. These programs will include a 20- to 30-minute presentation followed by a brief Q&A. For a schedule and Zoom links: facebook.com/events/834227720420779
▪ St. Louis Aquarium: Live Quaranstream — 10-11 a.m. Friday, May 8. Online at facebook.com/aquariumstl. Take a dive with St. Louis Aquarium and explore Shark Canyon, the Mississippi and Missouri River Confluence, the Ray habitat and more. Have more fun and print out a bingo card. When you see an animal on the bingo screen pop up, mark them off. Cards can be found at stlouisaquarium.com/bingo. facebook.com/events/2474435826199821
▪ Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center Blood Drive — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 9. Sgt. Charles A. Fricke VFW Post 805, 225 W. 1st St., O’Fallon. Appointments are required. 866-448-3253 or bloodcenterimpact.org.
▪ Gateway Region YMCA and St. Louis Area Foodbank Donations — 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Multiple locations. The Gateway Region YMCA is partnering with the St. Louis Area Foodbank for COVID-19 emergency food donations. Emergency relief boxes will help communities rebuild in their time of need. A majority of YMCA locations have donation barrels in front of their buildings. For a full list of locations and suggested donation items, please visit gwrymca.org/foodbank.
▪ Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center Blood Drive — 3-6 p.m. Monday, May 11. Faith Lutheran Church, 6809 Godfrey Road, Godfrey. Appointments are required. 866-448-3253 or bloodcenterimpact.org.
▪ Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center Blood Drive — 3-6 p.m. Monday, May 11. Troy United Methodist Church, 407 Edwardsville Road, Troy. Appointments are required. 866-448-3253 or bloodcenterimpact.org.
▪ Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center Blood Drive — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 12. The Journey Metro East Platelet Drive, 200 Dapron Drive, Belleville. Appointments are required. 866-448-3253 or bloodcenterimpact.org.
▪ The Field House Museum: Virtual Museum Tours — 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 12; Wednesday, May 13; and Thursday, May 14. Online at fieldhousemuseum.org. Take a virtual guided tour through the historic Eugene Field House on Hangouts. Email required. Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased online at fieldhousemuseum.org.
▪ University of Illinois Extension Madison-Monroe-St. Clair Extension Unit: Online Learning with 4-H — 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, through Thursday, May 14. Online at facebook.com/University-of-Illinois-Extension-Madison-County-4-H-309169712606683. Hands-on, virtually guided 4-H activities with lessons geared toward 8-19 years of age. 4-H membership not required. There is a new lesson each of the three days in each series. facebook.com/events/529032857816291.
▪ Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center Blood Drive — 3:30-7 p.m. Thursday, May 14. Skyline Church, 870 Milburn School Road, O’Fallon. Appointments are required. 866-448-3253 or bloodcenterimpact.org.
Club News
▪ St. Clair County Garden Club — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, May 7. Swansea Farmers’ Market, Rural King parking lot, 2801 N. Illinois St., Swansea. The Garden Club will be at the market with orange, yellow and pink milkweed to help Monarch butterflies; succulents and other house plants; annuals and perennials from members’ gardens. Cash only. Prices will range from 25 cents up to $5-$6. Bring quarters, $1s and $5s; no change can be made. Members will be masked and gloved; customers should be as well. The club’s boxes and plastic bags will have been sprayed with Lysol virus killer. 618-234-4052.
▪ National Alliance on Mental Illness Southwestern Illinois (NAMI SWI) — 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 14, and Thursday, May 21. Online via Zoom. Virtual support meetings for family members and other caregivers of individuals with mental illness. Registration is required in order to receive the link to these meetings. For more information or to register, contact Pat Rudloff at 618-656-6781 or silverlining6@charter.net.
▪ Parents of Addicted Loved Ones — 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Via teleconference. The PAL group provides education, support and hope to family members and loved ones of someone who has an addiction of substance use disorder. If you would like to join the teleconference, call 618-567-6095. palgroup.org
▪ O’Fallon Sunrise Rotary Meeting — 6:45 a.m. Wednesday, May 13. Via Zoom: URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/541096202?pwd=bDJsMkNPRGhsZER1Q2VjVTJXZ3l4Zz09; Meeting ID: 541-096-202; Meeting Password: 814543. Speaker: Floyd Lancia. Topic: Rotary International. ofallonsunriserotary.org
Food
▪ O’Fallon Fish Fry — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. Fridays. Knights of Columbus Hall, 402 E. U.S. 50, O’Fallon. Carry-out/Call-in only with limited menu. Credit cards accepted. 618-632-6229.
▪ Swansea Fish Stand – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 216 Service St., Swansea. Cod, walleye, catfish, shrimp and more. Saturday: fried chicken. Open for carry-out and call-in orders only. The Hall and Bar will be closed until further notice. 618-222-7171.
▪ Millstadt Fish Fry and Jam Session — 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays, Millstadt VFW Post, 200 Veterans Drive, Millstadt. Carry-out only. 618-476-1180.
▪ Fish Fry — 3-7 p.m. Fridays. Collinsville American Legion, 1022 Vandalia St., Collinsville. Limited menu. Curbside service only. Cash or check only. Place an order by calling 618-345-2508 or 618-345-5557.
▪ Post 58 Freedom Farm Fish Fry — 3-8 p.m. Fridays. 6355 Hilgard Memorial Drive, Freeburg. Cod, walleye, homemade pizza, wings, coleslaw, applesauce, mac and cheese, stewed tomatoes, fries, fried pickles, potato salad. Cost: $4.50 sandwich, $8 plate, $9 per pound. Carry-out only. Call 618-539-6095 to place an order.
▪ Troy VFW Fish Fry — 4-8 p.m. Fridays. Troy VFW Post 976 and Auxiliary, 123-A W. Market St., Troy. Cod, catfish, jack salmon, baked fish, chicken strips, shrimp. Call-in and carry-out only. 618-667-8387.
▪ Mascoutah Fish Fry — 4-9 p.m. Fridays. Mascoutah VFW Post 7682, 620 Donaphan St., Mascoutah. No grilled items or pizza offered at this time. Carry-out only. Call 618-566-2288 to order.
▪ Belleville/Swansea Moose Lodge Fish Fry — 4:30-7:30 p.m. Fridays. Belleville/Swansea Moose Lodge, 2425 N. Illinois St., Swansea. Carry-out only. Cash only. Must call to order. 618-233-1450.
Reservations Required
▪ Four Seasons Gardening Webinar Series: New Perennial Garden Theory — 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 12. Online via Zoom. Roy Diblik, perennial plant expert and author of “The Know Maintenance Perennial Garden,” has a fresh perspective on perennial gardening by outlining specifics on bed preparation, plant selection, garden designs, watering, and weed maintenance that allow the clients to have an easy to care for garden by year three. Join Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator Kelly Allsup as she describes some of these techniques highlighted in the book and how they can work for you. Free, but registration is required. To register: https://extension.illinois.edu/global/four-seasons-gardening-webinar-series
▪ St. Louis Children’s Hospital Make Tracks Through the Zoo Remote Run — Sunday, May 17, through Saturday, Aug. 1. In light of COVID-19 and the Saint Louis Zoo closure, the actual 35th annual run/walk through the Saint Louis Zoo and Forest Park is canceled, but you can still race remotely and support the Zoo. Run or walk, while practicing social distancing, from any location you choose – your home treadmill, neighborhood sidewalk, road or trail — and still get credit, a commemorative T-shirt and finisher’s medal. Run or walk a fast and safe 5K or 1 mile (or 1⁄2 mile Kids Crawl) on a day and time that works for you between May 17 and Aug. 1. Remote race fee is $25. Register online at stlzoo.org/maketracks. Deadline: Friday, May 15.
▪ Four Seasons Gardening Webinar Series: Creating a Pollinator Garden for Small Spaces — 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 19. Online via Zoom. Proper plant selection can give gardeners a beautiful and fruitful space that can play an important role in creating habitat for pollinators. Jennifer Fishburn, Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator, will discuss pollinator plant options for small spaces. Free, but registration is required. To register: https://extension.illinois.edu/global/four-seasons-gardening-webinar-series
This story was originally published May 6, 2020 at 5:00 AM.