St Louis, MO - The 2006 Taste of St. Louis will be held Sept. 29 through Oct. 1, at the Gateway Mall & Kiener Plaza (from 8th-11th streets between Market and Pine in Downtown St Louis).  The event will feature live music and a variety of food from 30 of St Louis' finest area restaurants. The event is free to the public and over 100,000 are expected to attend.

Activities scheduled for the weekend include:

The Southern Comfort Music Experience which will feature live national acts including The Roots, Cowboy Mouth, Beatin Path, Speakeasy, Theresa Andersson, Ozomatli, American Princes, Shack Shakers, Big Star and Son Volt St. Louis Music Village.

There will also be an "Official Aftertaste" presented by Nelly that includes a Friday night kickoff party and Sunday night AfterTaste. Sunday night’s VIP event, featuring Nelly, will be held at An American Place with limited advance-ticket availability.

The family can enjoy The Saturn Music Stage featuring top St. Louis music acts as well as the Radio Disney & Magic House Fun Center - An action packed kids area with live performances, special Disney Characters, art projects and Radio Disney tunes.  There will also be batting cages, sports-themed activities, an entire block filled with 100 artists of all varieties, a Performing Arts Stage featuring local talent, an art car exhibit and art for sale from top local artists.

But the focus of the event has to be "Restaurant Row" which will feature 30 of St. Louis' finest restaurants.  This is expected to include:

- Arthur Clay's - 7266 Manchester Rd.

- Boogaloo - 7344 Manchester Rd.

- Capri Restaurant - 800 Washington Ave.

- City Grocers - 920 Olive St.

- Copia Urban Winery - 1122 Washington Ave.

- Curry in a Hurry - 612 Olive St.

- Everest Café - 1916 Washington Ave

- Fat Toney's BBQ - 1629 S. 9th St.

- Faust's @ Adams Mark - 4th & Chestnut St.

- Good For You Café - 1925 Schuetz Rd.

- Guacamole's - 1330 Hwy K

- Harvest Restaurant - 1059 S Big Bend Blvd.

- J Buck's - 101 S. Hanley

- Joanie's Pizzeria - 2101 Menard St.

- Baladas Bistro & Wine Bar - 9th & Pine St.

- Kitchen K - 1000 Washington Ave.

- Mai Lee Restaurant - 8440 Delmar Blvd.

- Mike Shannon's - 620 Market St.

- Momos Ouzaria Taverna - 630 North & South

- Monarch Restaurant - 7401 Manchester Rd.

- Mosaic - 1101 Lucas Ave.

- Moxy Bistro - 4584 Laclede

- Portabella - 15 North Central Ave.

- Red Moon - 1500 St. Charles St.

- Savor - 4356 Lindell Blvd.

- Schlafly Tap Room – 2100 Locust St.

- Station Grille - Hyatt Regency/Union Station

- The Pasta House - 1143 Macklind Ave.

- Top of The Riverfront - 200 S. 4th St.

- Vito's Pizzeria & Ristorante - 3515 Lindell Blvd.