Art

“Elementary Art Showcase,” an exhibit featuring works of emerging elementary school-aged Chesterfield artists, opens with a reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Fri., March 13 at The Gallery at Chesterfield Arts. The exhibit runs through April 11. Call 519-1955 or visit chesterfieldarts.org.

The Thimble & Thread Quilt Expo is from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Fri., March 20, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sat., March 21 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sun., March 22 at Queeny Park in Ballwin. More than 300 quilts, including a prized collection of antique quilts, are on display. Vendors, a raffle, handmade quilts and other items for sale, and quilt appraisals are featured. Admission (good for all days) is $7 for adults, $1 for children aged six to 12 and free for younger children. Call Melissa at (765) 418-2273 or visit thimbleandthread.zampire.net.

“Jane Seymour: A One Woman Show,” an exhibit of original oil, acrylic and watercolor paintings and limited edition artwork by actor and artist Jane Seymour, is from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Fri., March 27 and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sat., March 28 at Wentworth Gallery at West County Center in Des Peres. Seymour makes personal appearances on both days. Call (314) 821-8884.

Benefits

The St. Louis Area Women’s Police Soccer Team Trivia Night is from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fri., March 13 at Chaminade High School (425 S. Lindbergh Blvd.). Tickets are $20 per person and include beer and setups. Teams of eight to 10 are featured. Call Tracy Panus at (314) 615-4282.

Cottleville Firefighters Community Outreach holds a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration and “Run for the Helmet,” a 4-mile run and 1 mile walk, at 9 a.m. on Sat., March 14 in Old Town Cottleville. A parade is at 11 a.m. and post-parade celebration with live entertainment at Sherlock’s Steak and Seafood also is featured. The event is sponsored by Mid Rivers Newsmagazine, sister publication of West Newsmagazine, and benefits Cottleville Firefighters Community Outreach, a program that helps homeowners whose homes are damaged by fire and provides education and awareness programs for area youngsters. Visit cottlevillefirefighters.org.

An auction is at 5 pm on Sat., March 14 at Gateway Academy in Chesterfield. Live and silent auctions and a 50/50 raffle are featured. Proceeds benefit Gateway Academy students. Call 519-9099, ext. 108.

“A Matter of Chance,” a mouse race/Texas hold ‘em fundraiser to benefit Missouri Children’s Burn Camp and Burns Recovered Support Group, is at 6 p.m. on Sat., March 14 at Sheraton Westport Plaza Tower Hotel. Mouse race participation is $40 per person; Texas hold ‘em tournament entry is $60. Call (314) 997-2757.

“Living Out Loud Auction,” a dinner auction to benefit St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness (SLOCA), is at 6 p.m. on Sat., March 14 at Sunset Hills Country Club. Tickets are $100 per person. Call Karen Higano at 519-7497 or SLOCA at (314) 995-6220.

Immigrant & Refugee Women’s Program sponsors an Irish Hoolie from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sun., March 15 at the Dubliner (1025 Washington Ave.) in St. Louis. Live Irish music, dinner for purchase and games of chance are featured. Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the door; event fee and game proceeds benefit IRWP. Call (314) 771-1104.

The St. Louis Fire Department Bachelor Auction is at 6 p.m. on Fri., March 20 at the Millennium Hotel (200 S. 4th Street) in downtown St. Louis. Local celebrities, live entertainment, prizes and a post-auction party are featured. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door with proceeds benefiting Backstoppers and The Missouri Children’s Burn Camp. E-mail ffbachelorauction@yahoo.com.

The Wednesday Club of Eureka sponsors a Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sat., March 21 at the Eureka Community Center (333 Bald Hill Road). Irish music and a cash bar are featured; carry-outs are available. Tickets are $9 for adults and $4 for children younger than age 10. Proceeds benefit an area food pantry and various community projects. Call Joan Romero at 938-6818.

“Dream Night with the Blues” is from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sun., March 22 at Side Pockets in St. Charles. For a small donation, fans challenge Blues players to games such as air hockey and Wii. Players participate in autograph and photo sessions. Proceeds benefit Dream Factory, a local nonprofit organization working to fulfill dreams of seriously ill children. Advance tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children aged 13 and younger. A limited number of tickets are sold at the door for $20 per adult/$10 per child. Visit stlouisblues.com.

Parkway Central High School’s “Project Graduation,” an indoor rummage sale, is from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sat., March 28 at 369 N. Woods Mill Road in Chesterfield. Prom and party dresses, household items, toys, books, baby items and clothing, furniture, etc. are featured. Cash only is accepted. Call Tammy at (314) 542-9882 or visit pchprojectgraduation.org.

Support Dogs, Inc. hosts its annual “Tacky Ball” from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sat., March 28 at Kemp Auto Museum (16955 Chesterfield Airport Road). Miss International 2008 Jayna Altman, an advocate for hearing loss and other disabilities, is honorary chairperson of the movie star-themed event featuring dinner, live music, a live auction and other activities. Guests must be aged 21 or older. Tickets are $99. Call (314) 997-2325 or visit supportdogs.org.

Parkway Alumni Trivia Night is at 7 p.m. on Sat., April 4 at Maryland Heights Community Center. Admission is $120 for a table of eight; proceeds benefit programs that serve and support the Parkway community. For reservations, call (314) 415-8074.

West St. Louis County Kiwanis hold a trivia night at 7 p.m. on Fri., April 24 at West County Lanes (15727 Manchester Road) in Ellisville. Admission is $20 per person; tables of eight are featured. Call Paul Eckler at 273-5398.

Dances

St. Louis Imperial Swing Dance Club holds its St. Patrick’s Day Dance at 6:45 p.m. on Sat., March 21 at St. Ann Community Center. Admission is $15 per person and includes dinner, beverages and dessert. Call (314) 434-4812 or visit slidc.com.

Family & Kids

“March Morpho Mania” is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily except on Mondays through Sun., March 29 at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House in Faust Park. More than 1,500 Common Blue Morpho butterflies are in free flight in the indoor tropical conservatory with massive releases held at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Sundays. Call 530-0076 or visit butterflyfhouse.org.

Luther Nordic Choir, one of the top college choirs in the nation, performs at 7:30 p.m. on Sat., March 21 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (327 Woods Mill Road) in Manchester. Admission is $15 for adults and $8 for students. Call (800) 4-LUTHER or visit luthertickets.com.

Chesterfield Arts presents Dances of India, Missouri’s premier Indian dance company in a cultural performance featuring beautiful costumes, complex rhythms and mucic, at 7 p.m. on Sat., March 28 at The Purser Center at Logan College (1851 Schoettler Road) in Chesterfield. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children aged 12 and younger. Call 519-1955 or visit chesterfieldarts.org.

Fish Fries

Longstanding Lenten tradition brings an annual flourish of fish fries to St. Louis, including these that are taking place in West County:

Ballwin VFW Hall
115 Mimosa Lane, Ballwin
527-9555
5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Fridays through April 10

Bethel United Methodist Church
17500 Manchester Road, Wildwood
458-2255
3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sat., April 4
Notes: Dinner is $8 for adults and $4 for children; a craft boutique also is featured.

Holy Infant Church
627 Dennison Drive, Ballwin
227-7440
4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays through April 3
Notes: Meals, sandwiches, a la carte items and a children’s menu; dine in or carry out.

Incarnate Word Parish
13416 Olive Blvd., Chesterfield
(314) 576-5366
4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Fridays through April 3
Notes: Fried Icelandic cod or fried premium butterfly shrimp; dine in, carry out or buy in bulk; menu and pricing at incarnate-word.org.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church/Knights of Columbus
17 Ann Ave., Valley Park
225-5268
4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Fridays through April 3
Notes: Baked tilapia and Jack salmon are on the menu; profits are used to furnish Sacred Heart’s new Parish Center.

St. Alban Roe
2001 Shepherd Road, Wildwood
458-2977
4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Fri., March 20
Notes: Dine in only menu of deep-fried cod; cheese and veggie pizza; Krieger’s salad; hush puppies and fries; macaroni and cheese. Cost is $10 per adult, $5 per child, $8 for seniors with a maximum charge of $30 per family, which includes dessert and drinks.

St. Clare of Assisi
15642 Clayton Road, Ellisville
394-7307
4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Fridays through April 3
Notes: Fish dinners; shrimp dinners, fried or stuffed; peel-and-eat shrimp; cod bisque; cheese pizza; cheese sticks; sides include macaroni and cheese, applesauce, slaw, green beans and spaghetti; kids’ meals. A balloon artist entertains children from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

St. Clement of Rome
1510 Bopp Road, Des Peres
(314) 965-0709
4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Fridays through April 3

St. John Bosco
12934 Marine Ave., Creve Coeur
(314) 434-1312
4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays through April 3
Notes: Cod and shrimp dinners.

St. Joseph Parish
567 St. Joseph Lane, Manchester
227-5247
4:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. on Fridays through April 3

Health

The city of Ballwin’s Parks and Recreation Department sponsors “Go! St. Louis Walk @ Work Day” from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fri., March 27 at Vlasis Park. Employees are invited to spend their lunch hour walking a 1-mile course; attendance prizes, information on starting a fitness regime and a complimentary day pass to The Pointe are featured. Admission is free. Call 227-8950.

West Newsmagazine sponsors Progress West HealthCare Center’s “Better Living: Shining the Light on Your Health,” a health conference offering pertinent information on issues affecting health, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Fri., April 3 at Whitmoor Country Club (1100 Whitmoor Drive) in St. Charles. Breakout sessions, vendor booths, free screenings, lunch and a keynote speaker are featured. Admission is $10. To register, call 344-2273.

Support Groups

“Griefshare,” a video seminar/grief recovery support group, meets from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays through May 3 at St. John’s United Church of Christ (15370 Olive Blvd.) in Chesterfield. Call Rev. Dale Bartels at 632-0540 or visit griefshare.org.