I consider myself a cheerleader for the arts everywhere throughout St. Louis. On any given day in any part of the area, there is something, whether small or large, happening on the arts scene. Take a look at the ARTful Happenings calendar and you’ll agree. I really try to provide geographically diverse event info. But, this month seems to “belong” to the Grand Center area.

Craft Alliance has long been an anchor for the arts on the western end of the Delmar Loop, and it will continue to remain so. To spread that artistic enthusiasm further, Craft Alliance announced the opening of their new 5,400 sq. ft. satellite in Grand Center’s Kranzberg Cultural Arts Center. Located in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Building (the old Woolworth building to those of us who remember it) on the corner of Grand and Olive, this new satellite facility offers space for contemporary fine craft exhibitions, artist residencies and classes in a variety of mediums. Craft Alliance plans to double their community outreach programs in the city, being more accessible to students in that part of St. Louis. The new space also provides an area for exhibition of large scale works. The spacious new educational area offers state of the art equipment for students working in metal, clay, fiber and graphics.

Even on a hardhat visit earlier this season, amid sawdust and paint cans, this space was impressive. Along with housing Craft Alliance, the Kranzberg Cultural Arts Center includes two theater spaces for performing arts. One is a black box theater while the other is arranged for cabaret performances. Both share a spacious entry and lobby area. St. Louis owes a thank you to Ken and Nancy Kranzberg, and other arts patrons like them, who have the vision to see beautiful potential where others may not. Moreover, we are all grateful for those people who so enthusiastically do what needs to be done to make possibilities into reality.

To get this new center opened in grand style, Craft Alliance hosts “One Grand Night” on September 20th. The roaring 20’s gala includes “flappers, fast cards and fun. It’s sure to be the bee’s knees,” said Daryl Huitt, PR and Marketing Manager for Craft Alliance. Tickets start at $50 for the Speakeasy After-Party which starts at 9:30 p.m. To be part of the full evening’s festivities (which begin at 6 p.m. and includes cocktails, dinner, dancing, live auction and so much more), reserve a ticket from $125-500 by calling Leslie Mash at 314-725-1177 x321, or write development@craftalliance.org.

But don’t put those dancing shoes away just yet. On September 27, Dancing in the Streets returns for its second year to Grand Center. I’ve raved about this event to everyone I know (and some I don’t!) since last year’s debut. Just imagine juried performances by 45 dance companies consisting of over 570 dancers on four outdoor stages scattered throughout the Grand Center area from noon to 9 p.m. In addition, the UK group Neighbourhood Watch Stilts International (NWSI) will dazzle the crowd with a gravity-defying “Chromorama”sculptural ballet (performed on stilts!!) at 3 and 6 p.m. Between performances, five NWSI dancers, world-renowned as “Les Oiseaux de Lux” in monochromatic bird costumes, will perform in “crowd interventions” throughout the day.

There will be opportunities to learn salsa, tango and swing dancing at the Main Stage (located at Grand and Lindell). Radio Disney’s Dance Team will provide choreography from the popular “High School: The Musical.” Food and beverages will be sold by District restaurants and street vendors. There’s lots of places to just sit and watch great dancers as you rest your feet, too.

As if that weren’t enough, Grand Center’s galleries and museums will be open from 1 to 4 p.m., along with EarthWays Green Homes Festival and House Tour from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Fox Theatre will provide mini-tours, popcorn and soda, with Stan Kann at the mighty Wurlitzer and the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes just waiting for you to take a picture with them. At 8:15 p.m., St. Louis University will add sparkle and color to the night sky with a fireworks display. There’s even more, but I’m out of room.

Did I mention that all this is FREE???