Step Away From the Pork Chop: Great American Meatout Saturday

For friending, not eating.

​Quit eatin' meat, wouldya? It's no good for you or the planet.

That's the message the St. Louis Vegetarian Society would love for you to get on Saturday. That's the date of the annual Great American Meatout, a day vegetarians across the planet -- in all 50 states and two dozen other nations -- encourage their meat-mouthed brethren and sistren to spend one single day subsisting solely on plants. The idea is that carnivores will see how easy it is and how good they feel and will drop the flesh habit forevermore.

Of course, the best way to do this is by providing delicious plant-y food, and the St. Louis Vegetarian Society knows better than to disappoint. They're throwing a party at First Congregational Church (6501 Wydown Boulevard, Clayton). There will be plenty of all-vegan grub from Noodles & Company. And if you bake a mean vegan cupcake -- or anything else -- enter the vegan bakeoff.

There will be a silent auction for gift certificates, gift baskets and other goodies. Plus it's always fun to meet other vegetarians in a city that's not exactly lousy with 'em. Tickets are $20 at the door, $10 for kids up to age thirteen and free for kids under seven.

Doors open at 3 p.m. on Saturday, the bake-off starts at 4:30 and the silent auction and dinner are atmailto:thestlvs@yahoo.com 5. Should be a good time, even for folks who chronically have cow on their breath. For more info, drop an e-mail to thestlvs@yahoo.com.