COCA swept all three categories of our 2008 Parents' Picks quest to find the best artsy class for little kids, big kids, and teens in St. Louis!

An extensive multidisciplinary arts institution located in the historic U-City Loop district, COCA (Center of Creative Arts) offers classes, camps, workshops, and performances in the visual and performing arts for children, teens, and adults.

The COCA Family Theatre Series, held in the center's 400-seat theater, is a favorite of locals, especially because theater workshops are frequently offered before and after shows for the whole family. COCA also hosts summer camps for kids, as well as art, circus, dance, or theater birthday parties.

In addition, COCA is also home to the Millstone Gallery, which features contemporary art exhibitions by regional and nationally recognized artists.

Sur La Table, a purveyor of fine equipment for chefs and professional chefs, also offers cooking classes for junior chefs. Sessions are limited to a small group, well-organized, and tend to fill up quickly. Check the website for details.

Share the joy of playing with food and learning how to cook with your children, whether they like hosting a tea party, baking real pies, or cooking dinner.

The store's junior chef selection includes pint-sized furniture, baking and cookware sets, child-size aprons, and other goodies for the young gourmet.

In addition to adult classes, The Viking Cooking School hosts classes and day camps for kids and teens. Although most are drop-off, some workshops are designed for parent-child cooking fun.

Whole Foods stores, operated by the world's largest retailer of natural and organic foods, are like hybrids, offering the kinds of products usually found in small, local co-ops, but with the wide selection more typical of conventional grocery superstores.

The Town and Country location stands at 55,000 square feet, nearly twice the size of the Brentwood store. It offers free Wi-Fi, café seating for 80, outdoor dining, the Whole Kids' Club for young shoppers, kids' birthday parties and cooking classes, and adjoining walking/running path and bike racks, among many other impressive features.

The produce selection is high quality, with prices to match; same for the meat and seafood departments. The 365 and Whole Kids house brands offer some relief, particularly on kid staples like cereal, snack foods, and peanut butter and jelly. Sample stations throughout the store enable parents and kids to graze while they shop; or they can buy something to enjoy in the cafe area after check-out.

Prepared dishes run the gamut from soups to sushi, with vegetarian, vegan, Asian, and Mexican options. Most stores feature in-house kitchens that serve up hot, ready-to-eat meals, as well as in-store dining tables.
Fresh breads, spices, bulk grains, dietary supplements, frozen and canned foods, sumptuous chocolates and baked goods, and designer cheeses are also available. Pet food, bath products, magazines, cut flowers, and paper goods are some of the non-food items for sale.

Young Chefs Academy, a national franchise, offers culinary classes, mini-camps, and birthday parties geared toward kids ages four to 14. Cooking classes abound, and kids learn not only the art of creating a great meal but also things like kitchen safety, etiquette, menu planning, table setting, and napkin folding.

Birthday parties entail all-inclusive, interactive, and hands-on cooking during which guests learn about the essentials of cooking from lively staff. Complete information is available on the Chesterfield location's website.