Strange new world: We mask up and venture out to restaurants, museums and other St. Louis attractions

Hours • 10 a.m.-noon Wednesday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday and Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday (closed Monday-Tuesday)

Capacity • 50 visitors

PPE • Masks required for visitors age 9 and older

A visit to CAM doesn’t feel significantly different than it has in the past. Once you get past the fact that the employee at the information desk is behind plexiglass and the cafe and bar are closed (although single-serve, non-alcoholic beverages are available for purchase), it’s easy to relax into the spacious atmosphere. On a recent visit, concerns about being vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 were minimal; others in the galleries seemed to be maintaining the proper social distancing. Indeed, moving through CAM was, as usual, not unlike negotiating a moonscape that just happened to feature works of art. In short, a tranquil refuge from an increasingly stressful world. By Calvin Wilson

Hours • Showtimes vary

Capacity • 25%

PPE • Masks required for visitors over age 9

After having not seen a movie in a theater since Vin Diesel’s “Bloodshot” the second week of March, I was itching to see something not on my home TV screen. The lack of new films made the break from theaters easier, but when a thriller called “The Rental” quietly opened at Galleria 6 Cinemas, I figured it was something I needed to see the old-fashioned way. After skipping the concession stand (the theater isn’t refilling popcorn or beverages), I settled into a seat as the lights went down. Full aisles were blocked off to allow social distancing, and patrons could not sit in an aisle occupied by another group. Mask aside, it genuinely felt like old times. By Kevin C. Johnson

Hours • Showtimes vary

Capacity • Reduced, with tables spaced to allow social distancing

PPE • Masks required while entering, exiting or away from table; temperature checks at entrance

Helium Comedy Club at the St. Louis Galleria resumed shows in June with touring artists including Tony Roberts, Nikki Glaser, Corey Holcomb, Michael Colyar, Lavell Crawford, Shane Gillis, Ms. Pat and Aries Spears. Overall, the experience felt safe, and the room has been more comfortable than in pre-pandemic times, since patrons no longer are stacked on top of one another. Since attending the reopening show, I’ve returned several times. Food and beverage offerings are reduced, with items served on disposable plates and cups, and there is a contactless option for ordering. It was all easy peasy. By Kevin C. Johnson

Hours • Traditional early-evening concert times

Capacity • Space was available for 1,000 cars, with up to four people per car

PPE • Masks required when concertgoers left their tailgate area to visit the restroom

After Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre’s 2020 season was lost to the pandemic, Live Nation came up with its Live From the Drive-In series. The three sold-out concerts allowed concertgoers to watch from their vehicle or from the adjacent parking space; the other space was for social distancing. The shows came off well, though there was a noticeable energy disconnect between the artists and the fans; applause was barely audible and was replaced by horn honking. The nights were fun, though the series is not expected to return for additional shows this summer. By Kevin C. Johnson

Review: El Monstero brings its Pink Floyd magic back to Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre for drive-in concert

Review: Brad Paisley assures "we're never going to forget this" at drive-in concert at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

Review: Nelly — with St. Lunatics — pulls off drive-in show for 20th anniversary of "Country Grammar"

Hours • 4-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 4-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday

Capacity • 25%

PPE • Masks required while, entering, exiting or away from table

J. Gilbert’s is a comfortable but classy steakhouse (and, increasingly, a place for seafood since its neighbor McCormick & Schmick closed), where the staff doesn’t mind divvying up shared entrees in the kitchen, where most bottles of wine are half-price on Sundays and where sides are included, rather than having to be ordered (for a premium) separately. JG’s started doing carryout when the pandemic shut things down; the restaurant has become pretty proficient at it. I went with friends for an early dinner on a recent weekend. It felt a little strange to go back into the dining room, but everything is well spaced — and it felt good to be served hot food in a nice restaurant. Everyone was good about maintaining distancing; the staff all wore masks, and I felt safe there. I felt it was worth the risk. By Sarah Bryan Miller

Hours • 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily

Capacity • 25%

PPE • Masks required for visitors age 9 and older

On our way to the Magic House, my 10-year-old daughter and I wondered what our visit would be like. Isn’t the point of a children’s museum to touch and play and handle things? What activities would be accessible? A surprising amount, in fact. Most exhibits were open: Visitors could still send wooden balls and Lego cars down ramps, turn gears, create a paper bag puppet, serve pretend pizza and go “fishing” in a stream. It’s just a matter of whether you’re comfortable doing those things, even with museum employees cleaning as you go. It wasn’t crowded at all on our weekday morning visit, and some rooms and areas were limited to one family group at a time. Arrows and signs promoted one-way paths through some parts of the museum, though we got mixed up a couple of times and went up a down staircase and vice versa. Sandcastle Beach, an outdoor water table and the front courtyard felt safer, and we saw one family camped out with swimsuits alongside the creek in the outdoor nature play area. We saw containers to deposit used scissors and styluses, but we weren’t offered them when we came in. We liked avoiding the crowds but didn’t go crazy touching everything in sight. If you have a toddler, that might be unavoidable. By Valerie Schremp Hahn

Hours • 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sundays (last entry at 4 p.m.)

Capacity • 2,500 per day; group size may not exceed 10 people

PPE • Masks required for visitors age 9 and older

I visited on an unseasonably gorgeous August morning. Visitors wore their face masks with good cheer, but some could have been a little more conscientious about distancing; I’m in a wheelchair and couldn’t easily get out of their way. But I never felt unsafe. Entry now is through an exhibition hall and up a ramp; to leave, we used the route for normal-times entry and exit. The paths are set up for one-way traversal, sending us counterclockwise, which felt strange, since I’m accustomed to going around the garden clockwise.

Many attractions are closed, such as the Children’s Garden and the Tower Grove House. (The Climatron has reopened with limited hours.) Some paths are closed, too, and restrooms are limited. The drinking fountains are closed (there are stations for refilling water bottles), but hand sanitizer abounds. The food dispensers for the koi and ducks are closed. (They’re still there by the bridge, though, mouths gaping, ever hopeful.) The dining room at Sassafras is closed, but there are “grab and go” options.

The garden is still without its army of 600 volunteers, which also makes a difference to its appearance. Overall, though, a visit is well worthwhile. The Missouri Botanical Garden is one of our region’s treasures, important in many ways: historically, for plant research and preservation, and as a quiet place to retain or regain one’s sanity. By Sarah Bryan Miller

Hours • 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday

Capacity • 50%

PPE • Masks required for visitors over age 9 when indoors, on mini-train/trolley and when less than 6 feet apart outside

This oft-overlooked attraction was established in 1944 and has the largest collection of transportation vehicles in the world. With 42 acres of indoor and outdoor exhibits that appeal to all ages, this felt like a great option for a safe, socially distant visit for a family group. It had been several years since our last visit, and our 10- and 12-year-olds marveled at the size of some of the locomotives in the outdoor train shed. Staff members were masked, and it wasn’t crowded at all during our Sunday afternoon visit. We couldn’t go inside some locomotives, and we opted to skip some attractions like the miniature train and trolley ride, but it was a safe and pleasant visit. We appreciated a chance to cool off while gawking at show cars, Tin Lizzies and train displays in the indoor galleries, and we grabbed ice cream bars at the gift shop on the way out. By Valerie Schremp Hahn

Hours • 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday (closed Monday)

Capacity • 50% of usual capacity in permanent galleries and public spaces; 80 visitors per hour for special exhibit “Millet and Modern Art”

PPE • Masks required for visitors age 9 and older

I was thrilled to return to the special exhibit “Millet and Modern Art” because viewers get a fairly intimate look at masterpieces usually seen in Europe. A friend and I went on a Friday, making reservations that day via MetroTix. (Although Fridays are free, MetroTix charged us $3 each for the honor of making online reservations.) For our quarter-hour entry time, there seemed to be fewer than 10 visitors, and people were taking social distancing seriously. One could gaze on Millet’s or van Gogh’s (or many others’) works without people hovering or obstructing the view. It was wonderful compared to being in a crowded New York exhibit in the days before the pandemic. Rules were followed by staff, and the rest of the museum seemed even quieter. As disappointing as it might be for attendance numbers, individual visitors are getting a rare opportunity. By Jane Henderson

Hours • 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Thursday-Sunday (closed Monday-Wednesday)

Capacity • 25%

PPE • Masks required for visitors age 9 and older

The dinosaurs still roar, the earthquake platform still rumbles, and you can still play Mario Bros. and watch pumpkins grow in the garden outside. Much of our weekday morning visit to the St. Louis Science Center seemed the same as before, with lots of directional markings on the floor to keep people moving in the right direction. Some exhibits, like the dinosaur dig and the Discovery Room, are closed, but the museum made alterations to others, like removing buildable materials and adding drawing materials in a maker space and adding plastic balls instead of foam “coal” pieces in an energy exhibit. We saw a cleaning crew with spray bottles and rags; employees were masked, though a couple of guests strayed. Guests exit through Boeing Hall on the Oakland side; on their way out, visitors can see an “Artifacts of Wonder” exhibit from the museum’s collection of more than 100,000 items (an iron lung, a cutaway of a jet engine, an orangutan skeleton). The extra effort included a giant screen with video messages from smiling, unmasked staff members thanking guests for visiting. Under our masks, we smiled, too. By Valerie Schremp Hahn

Hours • 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday-Saturday; Aug. 16-Sept. 4, hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily

Capacity • 50%

PPE • Masks required for visitors age 9 and older (masks can be removed at designated areas at River’s Edge and Historic Hill)

I made reservations for 9 a.m. on a weekday and brought my two kids and invited my parents. What better place for a socially distant visit with grandparents? We saw a couple folks not wearing masks properly, but we also saw masked zoo staff members asking them to correct themselves. As the pathways filled, we had to bob and weave around other people a bit, and it was easy to follow the one-way arrows in indoor venues such as the bird and primate houses. Some indoor attractions were closed, such as the Butterfly Dome and the Aqua Tunnel at Sea Lion Sound, and some interactive surfaces and touch screens were taped off. I’ve heard from friends and family members that the zoo felt too crowded for them on weekends, and they saw several visitors not wearing masks properly. If you can, opt for an earlier or later weekday visit. You’re there for the animals and not the humans, right? Aside from the masks and the occasional need to dodge homo sapiens, our zoo visit felt like a welcome dose of normal. By Valerie Schremp Hahn

Hours • 1:30 a.m.-8 p.m. daily

Capacity • Outdoor dining only; first come, first served

PPE • Masks required except while eating and drinking

There are four locations of this St. Louis-style barbecue restaurant in the metro area, and it is consistently ranked among the best. While the dining rooms remain closed, each location has patio space. We visited the Central West End restaurant. The waitstaff, all masked, adhered to safety guidelines throughout our visit. We were offered paper menus, or we could use our phones to scan a QR code and access the menu. Other diners felt appropriately distanced from our table. Restrooms are closed to the public, and an employee let us inside to use the restroom. It was a beautiful day to sit outside and enjoy the brisket, burnt ends toasted ravioli, and macaroni and cheese. The sauces were served in small, plastic containers. The experience of dining at a restaurant again — albeit outside — was more than worth it. By Aisha Sultan

Hours • 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. Sunday-Tuesday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday

Capacity • 25%; groups limited to six

PPE • Masks required for all guests while entering, exiting or away from table

Because the Bottleworks has a large, covered patio, and midweek reservations were easy to make, four of us were still able to sit outside as storms threatened. Capacity is running about 25%, but the tables were mostly full. Unfortunately, our server seemed exhausted (perhaps from wearing a mask outdoors in high humidity) and wasn’t at the top of his game, which was more annoying than any virus worries. Still, the ease of reservations, large patio and cold beer meant we enjoyed a small get-together and felt relatively safe. Dinner service is available until an hour before closing time. By Jane Henderson

Hours • 4-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday (closed Monday)

Capacity • Reduced, with social distancing

PPE • Masks required for guests age 9 and older while entering, exiting or visiting indoor spaces

Since March, I’ve been out to eat three times, but a recent Sunday lunch on the patio at Sports & Social St. Louis was the first time I wasn’t completely paranoid. The new restaurant and sports bar opened in June at Ballpark Village. Inside, booths are separated by partitions, and patrons can order drinks through plexiglass barriers at the bar. Outside, tables are plentiful, but only a few of them are shaded. The patio adjoins a plaza (formerly Busch II Infield) filled with more picnic tables, comfy seating, a giant TV screen, and games such as cornhole and Jumbo Jenga. Guests were respectful and kept to their groups, and I saw an employee remind someone to put her mask on. Servers provide paper menus, individual condiment packets and moist towelettes; hand sanitizer is available at multiple locations. A separate entrance and exit, as well as signage and arrows on the floor, kept things orderly. Busch Stadium is noticeably cheerless these days, but across the street, Sports & Social at Ballpark Village is a fun diversion. By Gabe Hartwig

Hours • 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday

Capacity • 25%

PPE • Masks required in public spaces for visitors over 10, but you may remove them in your bay; bays, already 6 feet apart, are separated by a vinyl divider

Though my family has been golfing outdoors throughout the pandemic, this was the first time we went indoors. Actually, Topgolf is more of an indoor-outdoor hybrid. Inside, you have your bay with seating for about six — the max currently allowed — along with your clubs, scoreboard and green. But you hit the ball to the open outdoors. So though you are dining inside (use your phone to scan a QR code to access the menu), there is fresh air from outside. That made me feel safer. Though everyone wore masks in public areas, our table (we booked online a week in advance) was in a high-traffic zone, and I felt guilty about being maskless as we ate our nachos and wings. Next time, I will request a bay away from the main doors. By Amy Bertrand

Hours • 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily

Capacity • No hard cap on outdoor area; amphitheater restricted to 25 visitors

PPE • Masks are “highly recommended” (required for ticketed Amazing Animal Encounters event)

On a recent weekday afternoon trip to the World Bird Sanctuary, my family had no difficulty remaining socially distanced from other visitors while we walked through the outdoor bird displays. A white line has been painted down the center of the main display path, with visitors instructed to stay to the right as they walk. (Everyone generally did so.) Per sanctuary guidelines, masks are “highly recommended” but not required. Again, there was plenty of space outside to stay apart from others, masked or unmasked. We didn’t linger at each display as long as we might have liked so as not to create a (distanced) traffic jam with those following us on the path, but it was still a lovely break from the Indoor Times to see such remarkable creatures as Anastasia, the Steller’s sea eagle. Note: The sanctuary is requesting a minimum $8 donation per vehicle of visitors. By Ian Froeb