Patch Picks: Events and Happenings Feb. 6-12

University City Patch teams up with neighboring Patch sites each week to round up events and happenings in the area. Here are our picks for this week.

Monday, Feb. 6.

• Would you like to be part of a million-book giveaway that might just change someone’s life? If so, consider getting involved with World Book Night, a campaign to get people reading more books. The event is being sponsored locally by University City-based . The organization is seeking thousands of volunteers to hand out books across the country on April 23. If you want to be involved in this worthwhile endeavor, you need to sign up by Monday. For more information and to sign up, visit the World Book Night website or call 314-862-6100.
• If you’re a man who is 50 or older, you might be interested in joining the St. Louis OASIS at on Monday. The men get together regularly on the first and third Mondays of each month to discuss a variety of issues. For more information, visit the OASIS website.

Tuesday, Feb. 7.

• If you’re a Michael Jackson fan, you might want to head to St. Louis on Tuesday for the Michael Jackson Immortal World Tour, presented by Cirque Du Soliel. The show will stop in St. Louis for two shows, Feb. 7 and Feb. 8. Door open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8. Tickets start at $50, and you can order online. For more information visit the Scottrade Center’s website.
• If art has your heart on Tuesday, check out one of the Tuesday groups at the in Clayton. The Tuesday Morning Painting Group session will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and participants can paint from pictures, items brought into the studio or from their own imaginations. The Tuesday Night Sketch Group session will run from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and participants will draw a live model in one pose for the entire evening. Cost for each group session is $5 for students and members and $6 for non-members.

Wednesday, Feb. 8.

• Want to help change your community, society or even the world? Head over to ’s Danforth University Center, Room 234, for a Social Value Workshop, led by Ken Harrington, director of the Skandalaris Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. The event is free, but you must register online at IdeaBounce.com in order to attend.
• Whether you subscribe to her philosophy or not, you might find her fascinating. Meet Amy Chua, author of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, at the in Ladue on Wednesday. The event starts at 7 p.m. and is being held in the auditorium. Chua will discuss her book and sign copies for attendees. For more information, visit the library’s website.

Thursday, Feb. 9.

• Dr. Michael Sherraden, author of Assets and the Poor and director of the Center for Social Development at , will speak at the in Ladue. Sherraden is expected to discuss his work on policies and programs designed to help low-income families save money and build their assets. This free event is open to the public and is sponsored by Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice.
• If you’re in need of a good laugh on Thursday, head to U. City’s Delmar Loop for Thursday Night Mic Night at Fitz’s. It’s all about comedy, and the show will feature local comedians as well as those “just passing through.” The show starts at 10 p.m. There’s no cover charge and will offer several drink specials.
• If you’re a young professional between the ages of 21 and 40 and you like trivia, check out the Young Variety’s Trivia Kickoff Happy Hour on Thursday at 6 p.m. The party will be held at Roxane, located at 12 North Meramec in Clayton. There will be a cash-only bar. RSVP to Mollie Francis at mollie@varietystl.org.  

Friday, Feb. 10.

• If you’ve got a kid between the ages of 3 and 8, head to University City-based on Friday for a special . The show will be presented by Tall Stories, a British company the created Room on the Broom. COCA has even provided a Tall Stories Twinkle Twonkle Family Guide to help parents prepare their kids for the experience. Ticket prices start at $16. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit COCA’s website.
• Looking for some inspiration to redesign your home or office? University City’s will launch a new exhibit on Friday that might give you just that. The Studio Design: Contemporary Furniture exhibit “looks at furniture from both a sculptural approach and functional value,” and features the work of several contemporary furniture makers. The free opening reception begins at 6 p.m.
• will also in the at the school beginning Friday through April 10. A public reception is being held to launch the exhibit at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

Saturday, Feb. 11.

• If you’re working on putting together your family’s genealogy, you might be interested in attending the St. Louis Genealogical Society’s Getting Ready for the 1940 Census class. The class will focus on simple steps to finding family records in the census, which is due to be released April 2. DNA testing to determine genetic genealogy will also be discussed, among other things. The class will be held at the in Ladue and will start at 10 a.m. For more information, visit the library’s website.