1.19.26

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A message from deputy editor Emily Adams

Why is it that it seems like every kid has a train phase? We have just entered that stage with my almost-2-year-old, Ben, and I did not realize that I would need a second mortgage to build his tabletop collection. Needless to say, if you need us over the next few months, we’ll be frequenting some of the displays and experiences around town (such as USA Today’s recent nominee for “Best Open-Air Museum”) that are a tad more cost-effective–and bigger than our house could ever store–to fuel his newfound passion.

🚂 Lucky for all parents of tiny train enthusiasts, The Magic House brought back its beloved Thomas & Friends exhibit this week. Read more about the exhibit and why you should choo-choo-choose to go below.

🤰For all moms-to-be, STL Nurture Collective just launched in South City. The holistic health center offers everything, from prenatal to postpartum, that new families need to take care of themselves. Keep scrolling for more.

⛸ For kids inspired by the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis, Skate St. Louis—the largest provider of inline skating and instruction in the state—is taking its game to the next level this year. Read more here.

🧑‍🍳 Our January Playdate at The Magic House is now sold out, but stay tuned for more info on our February Playdate–a kids' cooking class to adorable to miss–soon!

Wishing you a wonderful week with the ones you love!

🤔 Question? Have an idea you wish we’d cover? Email me and let me know!

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Things to Do

For even more great ideas for things to do this week, subscribe to our Weekend newsletter, delivered every Thursday. And if you’re looking for classic seasonal activities, check out our below guides.

🧊 Loop Ice Carnival

January 24 | 11 a.m.–7:30 p.m. | The Delmar Loop, 5900 Delmar | Free ⭐

🍳 Breakfast with Louie

January 24 | 9–10 a.m. | Brentwood Community Center, 2505 S. Brentwood | $16, $12 residents

🧸 Safe Sitter Program

January 24 | 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. | Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh | Free ⭐

❄️ Meet, Greet & Play With Elsa

January 25 | 9:30–11:30 a.m. | Wild Sprouts Play Place, 3010 N Highway 94 | $25 per child

📚 The J’s Winter Used Book Sale

January 25–29 | Various times | Jewish Community Center, 2 Millstone Campus | Prices vary

🍌 Savannah Bananas

August tickets on sale now | Online at cardinals.com/bananas | $99+

Tips for 2026 summer camp signups »

Accessibility programs at local attractions »

Indoor play spaces near you »

SPONSORED Now open: Climb aboard Thomas & Friends™: Explore the Rails! for a limited-time, hands-on adventure at The Magic House. Find out more.

A MESSAGE FROM THE DELMAR LOOP

Ice Carnival in the Loop: Sculptures, fire dancers, and drone finale

Celebrate winter at the Ice Carnival! Explore ice sculptures, play games, meet mascots, enjoy fire dancers and music—then, look up for the drone show finale.

Join The Fun »

FULL STEAM

The Magic House Thomas & Friends Exhibit

The Magic House brings back crowd-favorite Thomas & Friends exhibit

All aboard: Thomas is pulling into St. Louis. This weekend, Thomas & Friends: Explore the Rails! rolls into The Magic House, bringing to life the beloved Island of Sodor and transforming it into a hands-on, STEM-powered playground where young fans can climb, build, fix, and imagine their way through a limited-time exhibit.

🚂 It’s play-first, STEM-forward. Kids learn through doing: fixing Percy’s wheel, triggering Thomas’ sounds, selling tickets, and solving hands-on challenges that build early science, engineering, and problem-solving skills.

♥️ Classic Thomas meets modern Magic House. Created by the Minnesota Children’s Museum and inspired by the Nick Jr. series, the exhibit blends nostalgic favorites like Knapford Station with interactive, museum-quality design.

📝 There’s a bonus for grown-ups. Alongside the play zones, a retrospective showcases model engines, original drawings, and memorabilia from Rev. W. Awdry’s original Thomas stories.

POSTPARTUM, REIMAGINED

STL Nurture Collective in South City, St. Louis

STL Nurture Collective provides new moms with a holistic health center

For many new moms, postpartum care ends just as the real work begins. In South City, STL Nurture Collective is pushing back on that reality, bringing physical, mental, and emotional care together under one roof to help ensure that new parents aren’t left to piece together support on their own.

🏡 It’s all under one roof. Chiropractic care, pelvic floor and pediatric physical therapy, mental health services, massage, and community programming are integrated in a single space, so families aren’t bouncing between appointments across the city.

🫶 Care is collaborative, not siloed. Providers regularly connect moms to one another in real time—sometimes literally walking them next door for a mini consult—making it easier to spot needs early and get help faster.

🤰 Postpartum care starts before things go wrong. The collective emphasizes preventative care during pregnancy and early postpartum, supporting both mind and body so moms can thrive—not just survive—through one of life’s biggest transitions.