This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Car Collector Appreciation Day and More: 5 Things You Should Know for Friday, July 8

Before attending a Broadway-style revue tonight, you might want to stop by the Blue Goose for free samples of gourmet barbecue.

St. Charles loves to show support for the many charitable causes in the area. Tonight's performance at the Arcada Theatre will help benefit an important social service needed by many of our residents.

You can also taste smoked ribs at the grocery store, and hear a live performance by an up-and-coming band. And, if you own a classic automobile, make sure to celebrate a national day of classic car recognition by showing it off around town. 

Here are our 5 favorite things going on in St. Charles today:

Find out what's happening in St. Charleswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

1. At 7 p.m., the Arcada Theatre will host , a music and dance show benefiting  of St. Charles. The performance will showcase medleys from musicals such as Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, West Side Story, Footloose and many more. 

Tickets are available at the door and cost $10 for general admission and $20 for V.I.P seating. Proceeds will go to Lazarus House, which serves homeless men, women, and children.

Find out what's happening in St. Charleswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Want to make St. Charles Patch part of your day? Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

2. See local band Train Company perform from 9 p.m. to midnight at Jambalaya at . Jambalaya is a New Orleans-themed restaurant within the "Bourbon Street" section of the hotel's east wing.

Train Company's style of rock 'n' roll is heavily influenced with blues and jazz. They have performed at music festivals across the country including SXSW in Austin, TX. Their music has gotten significant radio play on college stations throughout the United States. Train Company has released two independent albums; a self-titled debut in 2009 and Change EP in 2010. 

3. It's the final day for treasure hunters participating in the , sponsored by the St. Charles Park District. 

During the last seven weeks, families have scoured 10 different St. Charles parks for clues which lead through a treasure map full of fun and surprises. Answers must be submitted by today; please click here to enter on-line.

4. Today is the second annual National Collector Car Appreciation Day. This day of recognition was started by The Specialty Equipment Market Association and The Hot Rod Industry Alliance in order to raise awareness for the important role classic car restoration has on American society. 

In 2010, the United States Senate passed Senate Resolution 513 proclaiming July 8 a national day of recognition for the automotive-restoration industry. Classic car appreciation runs deep in St. Charles; it's home to some of the biggest and auctions in the country.

5. Join  and JB's Fat Boy Barbecue for a three-day baby back rib barbecue event. JB's pit master will have the company's mobile barbecue smoker in front of the Blue Goose Friday through Sunday. Customers can purchase slabs of ribs and JB's famous sauce for a tasty take-home dinner. 

Free samples of ribs and sauce will be available at the deli during this event.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?