THE ST. LOUIS WHEEL CELEBRATES ITS THIRD BIRTHDAY!

The St. Louis Wheel at Union Station is celebrating its third birthday with a party in the Wheel Park on Friday, September 30, 2022.

The now-iconic St. Louis skyline attraction has been rolling since September 30, 2019. To mark the birthday, All-Day Passes will be discounted by $3. The passes allow guests to take unlimited rides on The Wheel all day, enjoy unlimited rides on the St. Louis Carousel, and play unlimited rounds of Mini-Golf in the Wheel Park at Union Station. 

DJ Rosie will get the party started at 5 p.m., spinning the hits while the Wheel spins overhead. Roving performers will add to the evening’s fun 

The Wheel’s neighbor, the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station, will offer extended Friday hours until 8 p.m. Fire and light shows will play on the Union Station lake during the celebration. 

The 200-foot-tall observation wheel’s 42 gondolas are kept at a comfortable 72 degrees all year. Riders will get a 20-mile view of the St. Louis skyline from the top of the popular attraction.

The Wheel is open from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily. Individual rides are $15 for adults and $10 for children.  All-Day passes are normally $30 with a $3 birthday discount to $27 on Friday, September 30. 

The St. Louis Wheel is located at St. Louis Union Station, 201 S. 18th St., St. Louis, MO 63103. www.thestlouiswheel.com; @stlouiswheelpark and @unionstationstl on social media.

6 Simple Ways to Help Your Kids Find a Fun Hobby

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Kids can be weird. They become obsessed with something overnight, talk about it all the time, and then drop it suddenly as if they never cared. This can make it difficult for parents to determine what kids like to do, and you might figure out if they have hobbies or anything they truly enjoy. 

But, hobbies are important for kids of all ages. Not only does it keep them from getting bored, but it can also help them gain skills that can improve their mental and physical sharpness. If you feel like your kid isn’t doing enough or missing out on key experiences that come from hobbies, consider these six simple ways to help them find something fun. 

Think About What You Enjoy 

Often, kids follow the same hobbies as their parents, especially when they are younger, and want to emulate their mom or dad. This is a good place to start as you already have a lot of knowledge about your hobby, whether you like to watch and play football or sit on the sofa gaming on the latest console. 

These hobbies can be easier for kids to get into as all the resources are already there, giving you and your child a great opportunity to bond about something you share, which can help you make plenty of exciting and treasured memories. 

Don’t Pressure Them 

Kids may not say anything because they want to make you happy. Still, don’t pressure them into any hobby. Instead, gently introduce something to them, whether something you love or something you think they would enjoy. 

The pressure will make the hobby feel like a chore rather than something that is supposed to be fun. While they might get some enjoyment from it, they will often dread things they aren’t comfortable or skilled at, so give them the autonomy to make their own decisions. 

Show Interest In What They Enjoy

Your child may have picked up a hobby from a friend or relative, and you might not have noticed until they start talking to you about it. If they haven’t shown a genuine interest in anything before, make sure you show interest in what they enjoy to encourage them to stick with it. 

Now you know what they like, you can also feed this hobby by purchasing or showing them things they might love. If they’ve gotten into movies, fan sites from classic comedies like Prestige Worldwide or memorabilia from some of the finest films of all time will keep them engaged and encourage them to look for more classics they might love. 

Try Something Different Together

If you want you and your child to spend more time together, a shared experience with a brand new hobby you can both explore could be perfect. This is a great way to enhance your bond and also encourages you to do something you’d otherwise have ignored, especially if you’re set in your ways and want to open to new experiences. 

You don’t need to do anything too crazy, but joining local groups that welcome parents and kids is an excellent way to spend more time with each other and discover common backgrounds that will help you improve your relationship. 

Don’t Stick With Things That Aren’t Fun

Sometimes, your child might have put hours into a hobby and they stick with it even if they don’t enjoy it anymore. This is a prime example of the skunk-cost fallacy, and it can be difficult to escape from. 

But, hobbies are supposed to be fun, so if they have lost their passion, perhaps it’s time to give it up. Of course, it might just be that they feel exhausted or overwhelmed by the hobby. If this is the case, encourage them to take a few weeks off to clear their head and see how they feel the week after. 

Be Supportive, Whatever They Choose 

It might be that your child picks a hobby that you don’t understand, and that’s okay. Even if you don’t get Dungeons and Dragons or why on earth they would want to climb a sheer mountainside, supporting them is the only thing you need to worry about. 

If they ask for new gear for their birthday, get it for them. If they need a ride to the club, take them, and when they get back, ask them how it was. They’ll appreciate this much more than if you tried to force them into doing something else. 

Getting On the Hobby Horse 

Hobbies are an excellent way to boost confidence and introduce your kids to other exciting things the world can offer. While not everyone will adore sports or video games, this doesn’t mean there isn’t something out there to discover and find a passion that will keep them busy for the rest of their life. 

ARE YOU READY FOR THE 2022 HAUNT SEASON?

St. Louis — Scarefest.com is ready for the 2022 Haunt Season and new frights and experiences have been added at the event’s three attractions — The Darkness, Creepyworld and the Lemp Brewery. 

THE DARKNESS

The area around St. Louis’ historic Soulard neighborhood might just be America’s scariest square mile with two of the nation’s top haunted houses and fright-themed escape rooms opening for the Halloween season.

The Darkness, called America’s Best and Scariest Haunted House, is now open on weekends through October 16 and then every night from October 20 – 31, ending the season reopening on the weekend of November 4 & 5.

The Darkness celebrates its 29th Year of Fear in 2022 with a renovation that has made the experience longer and scarier with 200 animated scenes. New in 2022 is the Horror Retail Store along with new scenes and screams, including a Killer Pumpkin Barn, Haunted Conservatory, a Horror Arcade with pinball games, a new five-minute Coffin Escape Room, Zombie Jam Basketball, Walking Dead Shooting Games, Horror Arcades, Ride the Electric Chair, and photo opportunities with the haunt’s living monsters.

CREEPYWORLD — AMERICA’S BIGGEST & LONGEST HAUNTED SCREAMPARK

All new at Creepyworld for 2022 is the Jack O’Lantern Spooktacular. Featuring more than 2,500 pumpkins carved with monsters and pop culture celebrities, the experience is fun for everyone in the family. Tickets to Creepyworld are not required to visit the Jack O’Lanterns except for Friday and Saturday nights.

Creepyworld is America’s longest & biggest haunted “screampark” with 13 attractions including a haunted hayride, a new Monster Midway, a Vampire Crypt Escape Room, graveyards, cornfields and a Christmas-themed haunted house.

Creepyworld in Fenton, MO, opens for the season on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays beginning September 30 and then every night from October 20 through October 31, and again the nights of November 4 & 5. 

LEMP BREWERY HAUNTED HOUSE

The all-new Lemp Brewery Haunted House is located deep underground where operators promise, “no one can hear you scream” inside St. Louis’ only real haunted house. 

Inside the historic brewery’s caverns — once used to lager beer and host parties — guests will come face to face with demons and navigate confusing mazes inside the House of Occult in the pitch black limestone cave. 

The Lemp Brewery Haunted House is only open for 10 nights in 2022:  October 7 & 8, 14 & 15, 21 & 22, 28 & 29 and 30 & 31. 

JURASSIC ISLAND, PIRATE’S CURSE, FRANKENSTEIN & DRACULA — NEWEST ESCAPE ROOMS NOW OPEN

Jurassic island, the Pirate’s Curse,Frankenstein & Dracula-themed Escape Rooms are now open at St Louis Escape, located in the Soulard neighborhood south of downtown St. Louis next to historic Soulard Market and The Darkness Haunted House.

The Frankenstein room is filled with animations, high-tech special effects and amazing puzzles. Players must prove there is life after death to be released from the chamber.  St. Louis Escape now features seven escape rooms. In addition to Frankenstein and Dracula, groups can play the new Jurassic Island with its fearsome dinosaurs, The Haunted Hotel, The Cellar, and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Silly Putter, an elaborate black-light 1980’s-themed mini-golf course, and a retro pinball arcade round out a visit to the haunt complex.

Escape rooms can be booked at www.StLouisEscape.com. Follow the escapes on Instagram @stlouisescape. The escape rooms and mini golf course are open Wednesdays through Sundays.

IF YOU DARE TO GO

Tickets for The Darkness, Lemp Haunted House and Creepyworld are available individually or in combination deals at www.scarefest.com

The Darkness and St. Louis Escape are located at 1525 and 1517 South 8th Street, St Louis, MO 63104. 

Creepyworld is located in Fenton off highway 141 just a mile south of Gravois Rd. at 1400 S Old Highway 141 Fenton, MO 63026 

Lemp Haunted House is located at 3500 Lemp Avenue just one mile from The Darkness off South Broadway. 

More information is available at www.scarefest.com.

5 Practical Ways To Maintain Your Car

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Everyone wants to take pride in their car. That’s almost impossible to do if it looks rundown and regularly breaks down. To prevent this, you’ll need to maintain your car in various ways. As simple as that sounds, it could seem overwhelming, especially if it’s your first car.

It doesn’t need to be complicated, though. By taking advantage of five ways to maintain your car, you can prevent most of the issues you’d otherwise have to deal with. You could also take much more pride in your car, as the time and effort you put into it gives you more to be proud of.

With some basic car maintenance, you shouldn’t have to worry about many repairs. Focus on certain areas makes sure that doesn’t happen.

Ways To Maintain Your Car: 5 Top Choices

1. Know The Owner’s Manual

You should get the car owner’s manual when you first buy your vehicle. It’s essential you give this a read through to make sure you know everything about your car. You mightn’t be able to maintain your car properly without it.

If you’ve lost your manual, or never got in in the first place, you can find it online. There’s an in-depth Ford Bronco owner’s manual here for instance. With a bit of time and effort, you shouldn’t have a problem figuring out how to maintain your car and make sure it runs properly.

2. Top Up The Oil

Checking your car’s oil regularly is vital to making sure the vehicle runs properly. It’s essential to lubricating your engine, absorbing heat, and much more. You’ll need to make sure there’s enough of the oil to do all of this.

If there isn’t, you risk your engine jamming and developing more issues in time. You could even wreck the engine if there isn’t enough oil. By checking every few weeks, and topping up when you need to, you avoid this happening.

It only takes a few minutes to do this, so there’s no reason not to.

3. Check The Wipers

Visibility is vital to safety when you’re driving. That’s where your windshield wipers come into play. They’re responsible for making sure you can see past the windshield when it’s raining. They could develop issues over time, or get damaged in various ways.

By checking these regularly, you can make sure nothing happens and that you can see properly. The wiper fluid will be one of the more important parts of this, as it could get low relatively quickly.

If it does, the wipers could end up scratching the windshield, affecting your safety.

4. Have An Emergency Kit

No matter how much effort you put into maintaining your car, there’s always a chance something could end up happening. You could end up breaking down in the middle of nowhere. If you don’t have an emergency kit to deal with this, you’re in a lot of trouble.

By thinking ahead, you’ll be in a much better position to deal with a breakdown or similar issue. Some of the more notable things to include in an emergency kit are:

  • Flashlight
  • Non-perishable food items
  • Blanket
  • Jumper cables

By having these on-hand in case you need them, you shouldn’t have much to worry about.

5. Keep It Charged

When you think about charging a car, the first things that could come to mind are electric or hybrid cars. These are far from the only vehicles that need to be charged. Even standard oil and diesel cars will have a battery that needs charging.

You’ll need to go out of your way to charge your car battery regularly. While this might seem like it’s not much of an issue, it becomes a large problem when you need to get somewhere and your car won’t start.

Your car could even cut out when you’re driving it if you don’t look after this, especially during the winter. Since the battery connects to almost everything in your car, it gets lower and lower.

Make sure it doesn’t go dead.

Ways To Maintain Your Car: Wrapping Up

There are more than a few ways to maintain your car, many of which can be essential to avoiding repairs and breakdowns. You’ll naturally want to make sure you don’t have to put up with these problems.

Following the car owner’s manual, having an emergency kit, and regularly topping up the oil – among other car maintenance tips – makes sure you don’t have to. While there’s always a chance of something happening, that should be a tiny risk once you’ve done everything right.