Things to Do in Saint Charles

CAM St. Louis’s sleek structure houses a dynamic forum for innovative, boundary-pushing contemporary art. Members gain free access to the museum’s ever-changing exhibitions by both well-known and emerging creatives such as the Cyprus-based Christodoulos Panayiotou, whose works examining the construction of national identity and history have made him one of the most compelling young European artists working today. Four guest passes enable members and their friends and family to share the provocative intrigue of Robert Breer’s 1957 and comment on the films' lack of a cowbell-heavy soundtrack. Because CAM St. Louis is a non-collecting institution, exhibitions in the Main Gallery and Front Room rotate regularly to afford a new experience with each visit and keep room corners free from provoked-thought buildup.

The friendly, skilled instructors at Pilates and Yoga Center of St. Louis are well versed in their individual fields. With 60 minutes of fully supervised attention, you'll learn to remedy errors, refine your form, and feel as doted on as an only child in the Center’s exercise family. Reap insider knowledge to show off at your next group class, confidently shape up without judgmental stares of your peers, or just revel in the undivided attention with today’s side deal to Pilates and Yoga Center of St. Louis.

In a modern world where historic buildings are demolished daily to make room for hip new watergun stores, museums are more important than ever. Today’s Groupon gets tenacious time-travelers and dedicated diorama builders a $3 admission to the historic Campbell House Museum, a $6 value. The first house in the elegant Lucas Place neighborhood, Campbell House was the home of influential fur trader and entrepreneur Robert Campbell. After a recent five-year-long restoration to the tune of $3 million Earth dollars, Campbell House is one of the most accurately restored 19th-century buildings in America and home to the period paintings, furniture, light fixtures, clothing, old-fashioned LaserDisc player, and the correspondence of its previous tenants. Residue: Haunted houses, especially those that have been neglected for a long time, tend to accumulate a powdery "ghost residue," which compounds in layers on shelves, the tops of books, furniture and pottery, and even floats freely in the air, illuminated by an afternoon sunbeam. While many write this off as dust, this explanation does not account for its preternatural taste.

The owners of Vino Vitae welcome newcomers and connoisseurs alike to the wide world of wine appreciation. They constantly research wines, sharing bottles not typically found in the aisles of grocery stores with groups during classes and tastings held indoors at their shop's bar or, in warm weather, on an outdoor patio. Guests may learn how to describe the scent of wine using an aroma wheel, how to judge quality, and other skills.

Shopping at a boutique is like coveting a fashion-savvy friend's wardrobe, except that you can take home a knockout pair of jeans without worrying that your bootylicious bud wore them better than you to an auto plant. Whereas department stores follow trends, boutiques create them with innovative looks from top designers that you won't find anywhere else in town. Byrd Style Lounge cultivates a collection of classic lines and edgy designs, perfect for those who want one-of-a-kind looks but don't want to sift through thrift or pay top dollar for something someone's grandma already wore.

In August of 2009, the five women who founded the St. Chux Derby Chix found themselves on the wrong side of the Missouri river. In search of a local roller derby league to join—but unwilling to drive or quantum leap over to St. Louis—the women decided to start their own league. Through word-of-mouth, the news spread quickly, and soon, female competitors from across the county were signing up. By December, the St. Chux Derby Chix were born. From young professionals and college students to moms with college-aged kids of their own, the Derby Chix roster steadily grew. So much so that they now have enough players to field two teams: the Pack in Black and Helles Belles. Both clubs compete at Matteson Square Garden, where fans of all ages are invited to kick back and watch the fast-paced action.