Best Arts and Culture Places in Hazelwood

"In 1993 a 10 story, 600,000 square foot shoe factory was purchased and turned into a “city within a city” - a creation of interactive art exhibits straight from your dreams. The musuem officially opened in 1997 and has been home to some of the largest and most unique art exhibits in the United States. Here you will find 10-Story slides, indoor/outdoor adventure, a rooftop area to explore, Toddler Town, a network of caves, and so much more!"

" museums full of priceless art, children’s museums are interactive playlands for kids…with a good dollop of education. Here your kids can learn about science, art, biology, history and so much more."

"The City Museum is reimagined in a 600,000 square-foot former warehouse belonging to an International Shoe Company has a fun pavilion and source of architectural wonder for visitors."

"Since its 1910 founding, the Zoo has been renowned for its beautiful naturalistic exhibits, its diverse collection of animals and its innovative approaches to animal management, wildlife conservation, research and education. The Zoo’s Education Department staff—the largest among the nation’s zoos—offers programs designed to help visitors of all ages and abilities learn through experience, involvement and discovery. Of the three million visitors hosted annually by the Saint Louis Zoo, approximately 1.7 million visitors interacted with an Educational Interpreter, Zoo Docent or Zookeeper who provided educational experiences and information."

"Free to all, the St. Louis Art Museum not only offers a world-class exploration of the world of creative art, but it's one of the best free family activities in the state. The museum features a variety of rotating collections spanning more than five millennia of human creation from six continents and nearly every known society. General admission is free every day, while access to special exhibits is free on Fridays."

"I’m not a huge fan of art museums, but this one is pretty cool, even for me!. It’s quite the size with 3 levels that hold over 30,000 pieces of art from all over the world!. You’ll walk through many different eras of art with each one holding something different."

"Recent popular exhibitions include Harry Benson’s King & Queens and M.C. Escher’s Infinite Variations, but you don’t even have to enter the premises to appreciate the Chess Campus (a collaboration with theSaint Louis Chess Club, located across the street.) Standing 20 feet tall, you can’t miss the world’s largest chess piece standing sentry on the sidewalk. Surrounding it, and on both sides of the road, several tables with builtin boards welcome chess players of all abilities."

"If you or your kids are remotely interested in the world’s most popular and challenging game of all, a trip to this chess mecca is a must. One floor of the World Chess Hall of Fame explores the connection of chess to art, culture, and history, and the others display thought-provoking exhibits. If it’s a nice day, play a game with the toddler-sized pieces outside!"

"Located in a renovated industrial building, the Bruno David Gallery was established in 2005 and is situated in St Louis’ midtown area amongst a cluster of fellow contemporary art spaces. Owned by Director and namesake Bruno David, the gallery has gained national attention for its original exhibition program featured in publications including Art in America and the Wall Street Journal, and represents some of St Louis’ most talented artists alongside a roster of internationally-acclaimed artists. Among its current artists are conceptual sculptor Michael Jantzen, whose work merges art, design and architecture, and St Louis-based multimedia artist Patricia Olynyk whose art comments on the relationship between science, culture, and the environment."

"Clayton gallery shows top local and national artists, some of international stature. Open Tu-F 11 am-6 pm, and by appointment."

"COCA is St. Louis’ Center of Creative Arts, a multidisciplinary arts and culture institution that resides in a former synagogue designed by world-famous German architect Erich Mendelsohn, and has been entertaining the St. Louis community with art-based performances and events for the past 20 years. Among COCA’s operations in The Millstone Gallery, which exhibits works from regional and national artists which has included exhibitions from St. Louis-based photographer Stewart Halperin, who travels the world documenting the cultures he encounters with his camera, and Florida-based artist Maggie Taylor, who creates beautifully surreal images by scanning and digitally manipulating 19th century photos and drawings."

"Gallery specializes in internationally known artists like Milton Avery, Chuck Close, Andy Warhol, George Condo, Richard Diebenkorn, Lucien Freud, Alex Katz, Robert Longo, Elizabeth Peyton and others. On view: Dean Kessman: Utilitarian Abstraction (Jun 22-Jul 27). Open M-F noon-5 pm and by appointment."

"Downtown co-op gallery presents themed, juried shows in a variety of media by regional artists. On-site coffee shop invites lingering. Open M 10 am-4 pm; T-F 10 am-5 pm; Sa 10 am-4 pm."

"Gallery focuses on regional and internationally known contemporary artists in a variety of fine art and craft media, including Rudy Autio, Michael Eastman, Jun Kaneko, Marvin Lipofsky, Joseph Piccillo, Nancy Rice and many more."

"Opened over 125 years ago in 1876, Forest Park really has been around forever. In fact, the 1,371 acres hosted the World’s Fair, or Louisiana Purchase Exposition, back in 1904. The exposition was one of the grandest moments in St. Louis history and was rich with culture."

"The beautiful Missouri Botanical Garden is also known as the Shaw Garden, after the businessman and botanist Henry Shaw (1800-89) who laid it out in 1859. In the southeast part of the gardens are the richly appointed Tower Grove House, Henry Shaw's "garden house". The gardens themselves comprise a lovely rose garden, the rather unusual Climatron, built in 1960 for tropical plants, a Japanese Garden, an "aqua-tunnel" under a water-lily pool, and a herbarium."

"Founded all the way back in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Garden is the nation’s oldest botanical garden & National Historic Landmark that is still well-preserved and functional today."

"Jeni's Ice Cream is an adorable chain ice cream shop that has stores across the United States. I thought it deserved a place on this list because it is one of the places that I frequently go to with my friends. It is slightly pricey, but I think you do get a solid amount of ice cream for the price that you pay."

"With one location on Delmar Blvd and another on Euclid Ave, Poke Doke is an easily accessible poke place that offers fast and healthy custom bowls and more. Support them by picking up takeout or ordering delivery."

"Cafe Mochi debuted in 2009 and has since become a staple for Asian-inspired cuisine in South City. The restaurant features sushi and Japanese-style dishes alongside Vietnamese classics. Popular picks include the eye-catching volcano sushi roll with tempura shrimp, asparagus and avocado, topped with baked crab, scallops and spicy mayo."