June 11-13
16th Annual Central West End Art Fair & Taste. Friday, June 11, from 5-11 p.m.; Saturday, June 12, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, June 13, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This eclectic event features more than 60 regional artists and some of the best culinary creations that St. Louis has to offer. Sample delectable dishes from a variety of restaurants along Maryland Plaza, Euclid and McPherson while enjoying live music on the Straub’s Main Stage. Click here for more information.

June 11-13
Shakespeare Festival St. Louis presents Hamlet. 8 p.m. The 2010 production of Hamlet marks the festival’s 10th anniversary. This event is free and takes place on Fine Arts Drive at Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park. Hamlet will continue to run nightly through June 20, except on Tuesdays. Each performance is preceded by a Green Show at 6:30 p.m., which features a 20-minute play that introduces the characters and plot and a variety of other entertainers. Chair rentals are available for $7 and $10, and donations are gratefully accepted. For more information, visit www.shakespearefestivalstlouis.org.

June 12
2010 Chesterfield Garden Tour. 9 a.m to 3 p.m. Presented by the Chesterfield Beautification Committee, this year’s tour will showcase seven gorgeous gardens, rain or shine. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at City Hall, 690 Chesterfield Parkway West, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday, June 11, and on Saturday, June 12 from 9 to 11 a.m. (cash only on Saturday). Tickets may also be purchased by calling 636-537-4000. A map with locations of the homes will be provided with ticket purchase. Click here for more information.

June 12
Town & Country Garden Club Garden Tour. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy the rare opportunity to see eight of Town & Country’s most unique and beautiful gardens, rain or shine. Tickets are $12 and may be purchased at the Town & Country Municipal Center on Friday, June 11, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and at Longview Far House on the day of the tour from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Payment by check only please, made payable to the Town & Country Garden Club. For more information, contact the Town & Country Garden Club at 314-229-8686.

June 12-13
6th Annual Ste. Genevieve Antique Show & Sale. Saturday, June 12, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, June 13, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ste. Genevieve is about an hour drive from St. Louis, making it the perfect destination for a weekend getaway. This weekend’s show and sale – located in the Old Rozier Building at 3rd and Merchant Streets – will feature a variety of antiques from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries displayed throughout this nearly 100-year-old home and its spacious lawn. Admission is free. For more information, call 800-373-7007.

The 21st Annual St. Louis Earth Day Festival will take place on Sunday, April 25, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Muny Grounds in Forest Park. This eco-fabulous event will include two stages of live music, cultural performances, local cuisine and family-friendly, hands-on activities. In addition, more than 275 environmentally responsible artists, food vendors, educational exhibitors, businesses and organizations will be on hand to share ideas on how we can learn to live every day like it’s Earth Day. The festival will kick off with the popular All Species Parade with the help of Mayor Francis Slay. For more information, visit www.stlouisearthday.org.

Other Earth Day events this weekend include:

Chesterfield Earth Day
Saturday, April 24 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This 19th Annual Earth Day festival, hosted  by the city of Chesterfield, is titled “Water’s Where It’s At!” with a focus on what local families can do to keep our watershed cleaner. More than 50 exhibitors will be showcasing green services and selling environmentally friendly products, including rain barrels, recycled glass art and native Missouri wildflowers. This event takes place at Central Park, 16365 Lydia Hill Dr. For more information, visit www.chesterfield.mo.us.

Earth Day at the Missouri Botanical Garden
Saturday, April 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Learn about healthy living from the environmental organizations of Earth Share of Missouri. Behind-the-scenes greenhouse tours will take place at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m., and there will be live music on Spoehrer Plaza from 1 to 3 p.m. The Missouri Botanical Garden is located at 4344 Shaw Blvd. For more information, visit www.mobot.org.

Earth Day at Kirkwood Farmers’ Market
Saturday, April 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Specialists from Kirkwood Living Green will demonstrate how to compost, build a rain garden, plant an organic garden and make your home more energy-efficient. Peter Laufersweiler, Kirkwood’s horticulturist and arborist, will share information about the new Kirkwood Community Garden and more. The Kirkwood Farmers’ Market is located at 150 E. Argonne Dr. For more information, visit www.downtownkirkwood.com.

Earth Day Party at Greenscape Gardens
Saturday, April 24 at 10 a.m.
“Native Plants for the Urban Landscape with Justin McCoy.” Learn how plants can be beneficial as well as beautiful in urban landscapes. Greenscape Gardens is located at 2832 Barrett Station Rd. For more information, visit www.greenscapegardens.com.

Pedal for the Planet
Sunday, April 25 at 9:30 a.m.
Explore the natural ecosystems of Forest Park using pedal power as the mode of transportation. Registration for this free event begins at 9 a.m., and a 6-mile, naturalist-led tour begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Missouri History Museum’s north entrance in Forest Park. For more information, visit www.mohistory.org.

Please consider recycling your outdated or broken electronics at one of these local e-recycling drives this month:

Saturday, April 17
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Kirkwood High School
801 Essex Drive

Integration Controls and Web Innovations & Technology Services (WITS) have partnered for an annual Electronics Recycling Drive, and there are no fees for dropping off unwanted items. Some items will be refurbished and redistributed to under-served populations, and others will be recycled appropriately – with a 0% landfill policy. No fees will be charged; however, a donation to cover handling expenses is appreciated.

Accepted items (in any condition):
Computers, laptops, keyboards and more
TVs, VCR players and tapes, stereo equipment, etc.
Cell phones, mP3 players, etc.
Blenders, microwaves, toasters
Refrigerators, washers and dryers, dishwashers
Batteries, lawn equipment, old tools, etc.
Anything else with a plug or a switch that once used batteries

Visit www.integrationcontrols.com/erd or www.witsinc.org for more information. Or, call 314-821-3400 for questions or to volunteer.

Saturday, April 24
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Chesterfield Valley Athletic Complex (Parks & Recreation Building parking lot)
17891 North Outer 40

Web Innovations & Technology Services (WITS), a not-for-profit organization, and the City of Chesterfield have partnered to provide a free monthly drop-off location for all unwanted electronics.

This collection site is open every fourth Saturday of the month from February to October. An additional drop-off location will be held in conjunction with Chesterfield’s annual Earth Day celebration on April 24 at Central Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. No fees will be charged; however, a donation to cover handling expenses is appreciated.

Accepted items:
Computers, laptops, monitors, printers, cables and peripherals (keyboards and mice, etc.)
Networking equipment, telecommunications, phones, clocks, etc.
TVs, VCRs, stereos, and audio/video/satellite/cable equipment
Home electronics, blenders, toasters, etc.
Washers, dryers, dishwashers, furnaces and A/C equipment
Electrical, cabling and communication machinery and equipment
Lawn equipment, tools, old mowers, tillers, etc.
Old motors, transformer and all electrical equipment
Car and lead-containing batteries
CDs, VHS tapes, DVDs, Cassettes, DAT and all types of software

Absolutely no paints, tires, chemicals, hazardous or wood products will be accepted. All donations are tax deductible. For more information, call 314-382-1650 or visit www.witsinc.org.