St. Louis aka: Saint Louis, The Lou

St. Louis is a Great City to visit for families.

This is the City Museum in downtown St. Louis. Be sure and visit, especially if you have kids.

http://www.citymuseum.org

And, of course, the Magic House children’s museum.

http://www.magichouse.org

Then take in all the free things, like the World Famous St. Louis Zoo. (Parking in Forest Park is free, or you can park in the lot for a small fee. Entry is free.)

http://www.stlzoo.org

Along with the free Science Center, the free Art Museum, the free Grants Farm, the free Anheuser Busch Brewery tour, and the new free City Garden sculpture park downtown.

And of course the other usual attractions: Six Flags Amusement Park and Hurricane Harbor Water Park, Forest Park, the Fabulous Fox Theater, Ted Drewes, the MUNY, the Botanical Gardens, the Great River Road drive and ferry boats along the Mississippi River, Missouri wine country, 30 minutes west of St. Louis, and the U-City Loop entertainment district.

And of course there is always baseball or a trip to the top of the Gateway Arch.

I was here all last week to take part in a 100 guitar symphony at the Pageant. Rehearsals were at Powell Symphony Hall.

• MetroLink. I stayed at the Civic Center Sheraton, so I was just across the street from take the train to many neighborhoods, and used it to get to Lambert/STL airport and back on the cheap. Of course, being in Seattle, which has yet to have a train system, I was enamored.
• Architecture. So many swarthy old buildings, so little time.
• The Arch. It was quick, but I enjoyed my tour of the arch. I went into the Mork & Mindy pods up to the top to take photos.
• Hospitality. Aside from older white suit-n-tie men in downtown who looked at me like dirt, I was treated very kindly by everybody around me inside and outside, no matter the race, class, etc.

• Fear. The one major thing that has crippled the city from my P.O.V. is this fear—especially the one that dictates you need to be home before dark. It’s paralyzed the potential life of this city. There is life but it’s hard to find. There’s barely anyone on the streets in downtown during the weekday. Even Seattle’s business core in downtown on a weeknight has more foot and car traffic, which is saying a LOT. People don’t just avoid public transit here. They seem to avoid side streets too. There is a clear and non-obvious social schism that’s ugly, either way you slice it.

Moreover, that fear perpetrates a lot of other bad “isms”, especially the one that begins with “rac”—which is another can or worms, I realize.

That said, as a white guy who looked very non-touristy, I was treated like an equal with almost everyone. It’s cliche to say it, but R-E-S-P-E-C-T is a requirement if you’re going to survive in St. Louis. People here have plenty of it and are willing to give it to you immediately, especially if you offer it first.

I’m not discounting the horror stories of muggings and shootings. There is a history I’m missing, and a week in 2008 just doesn’t bring me that perspective. I heeded all the warnings. However, I’ve heard these warnings in L.A. and Seattle too once upon a time. Many years later, after the pluses and minuses of gentrification, I don’t hear these warnings anymore.

Perhaps one day, for better and worse, nobody will have to be afraid to walk in St. Louis after dark anymore, and much of the fear will be extinguished. And hopefully, gentrification may not be necessary at all to achieve this.

So while I highly encourage people to visit St. Louis, especially if it’s on the way or there is a special event, just be forewarned that it’s a city stilled ruled by fear, even if it’s on the verge of overcoming it.

Go to the Arch!

St. Louis

It was dirty and I met a liar there. Horrible!!!!

I went to St Louis to attend a big technical event (an IEEE 802 Plenary Meeting). It was my first and (up today) the only time I had the chance to participate in such kind of event. It was one of the highest points in my professional career. As for the city itself, I found it to be great. I visited a lot of places – walked downtown, went to the historic train station, watched a hockey game live, saw the city at the arch, looked upon the Mississipi River, visited the Science Museum… it was a life changing experience, I got back to Brazil full of new ideas. I spent one week there. I would like to go there once again, now with my family and kids.

i am foreign and lived in stl for 10 yrs. hated it at first but learned to love it! key places to check out: the loop, central west end, south city.. both for great boutiques, coffee shops, boutique restaurants, and awesome hole-in-the-wall type of bars. while i can think of at least 10 cities to go visit before stl in the usa, if ur on the way, its totally worth it to stop by and check it out.

...was during my honeymoon in May 2007. My husband and I visited 6 cities in 10 days as part of a ballpark tour. St. Louis was definitely one of the highlights. We stayed at the Hilton right across the street from the ballpark, which was fantastic. A great baseball atmosphere, excellent night life. I’d definitely make a return trip.

I visited the City Museum and the developing LaFayette Square. Sqwire’s Market and Restaurant and The Chocolate Bar. Yum and fun.

There are tons of things to do and see, but make sure where your going or you can get lost and in a bad area like any city your unfamiliar with.

Of course practice common sense with jewelery or money involved and not flash in public.

First let me tell you there are plenty of Free things or at least reasonable things to do

St. Louis Art Museum. 1 it’s FREE. 2 special exhibits do have an admission fee, except on Tuesdays, when they are also FREE. The museum is open late Tuesdays, as well. It’s part of

Forest Park. There’s not really one specialty, but it’s a good all-purpose museum.

St. Louis Zoo. Again, FREE. Also part of Forest Park. Make sure to walk across the street to
Turtle Park while here.

Laumeier Sculpture Park. Okay, this one is a bit of a drive, but again, it’s FREE. Great for a picnic.

Anheuser-Busch Brewery. Free. Plus You get to see the Clydesdales.

City Museum. Okay, this one is not free. But it’s nice for kids and fun for adults, too.

Saint Louis University. This one’s free if you don’t do the museums. More fountains than any campus in the U. S. Oldest university west of the Mississippi. Home of the Billikins.

The Arch. Nothing need to be said there…other than hey that defines St Louis.

The Courthouse. Where the Dred Scott trial happened & has a good display of the history of St. Louis, also.

Science Center. clock the cars on Highway 40 and has different exhibits throughout the yr.

Soulard Farmers Market. It’s a good excuse to walk around Soulard, & has great produce. Hodaks is good place for yummy chicken there. Later, you should go back to the Venice Cafe. in the area live music and decent food to boot.

The Loop. Not really a loop, but it was where the streetcars turned around. Walk down, check out the stars on the St. Louis Walk of Fame, do some shopping at Vintage Vinyl. See a movie at the Tivoli and eat at Riddle’s, where a lot of the dishes are created from local organic produce and some real good homemade ice cream. Genesis Coffee House & Art Gallery is a great place for coffee or tea. blue berry hill/ Best burgers around, live music, and large selection of domestic and imported beers

The Botanical Gardens. Used to live just blocks from there and I worked at a daycare and would on occasion take the little ones over there. Is a great garden and supposed to have the largest Japanese garden outside Japan.

Dressel’s Pub in the CWE: traditional Welsh pub, with pictures of writers on the walls.

Duff’s in the CWE: eat outside, and if they have strawberry-rhubarb pie that day, get it.
Someone told me about it and I would agree 100% on that tip.

Where to eat:
Riddle’s: already mentioned.

Blueberry Hill: also on the Loop and has a good setup for playing darts. Great hamburgers, and board games are available, plus many times live music.

Fitz’s: also on the Loop. St. Louis’s own root beer.

Crown Candy Kitchen: in North St. Louis. It’s all about the dessert.

Pho Grand: good cheap Vietnamese on South Grand. So Grand is good for Vietnamese or a lot of different ethnic food in general.

Cafe Manhattan: very comforting food in a sort of 1950s juke-box-inspired setting.

Koppermann’s Deli: best Sunday brunch, but be prepared to wait. Pricey, but worth it.

Uncle Bill’s Pancake House: on the South Side, it’s the best place to eat in the middle of the night.
Rigazzi’s: on the Hill if you go on the night of a Cards game, expect a crowd. Get the toasted ravioli—I love those things, plus it’s a tradition.

And if you like Panera Bread, go while you’re in St. Louis. Before they went all national, it was known as St. Louis Bread Co., and so it’s still known around these parts as “the BreadCo.”

West Port Plaza: not so much for shopping, but plenty of places to eat. Great place to watch sports is Ozzies (Ozzie Smith named after and owned)

St Louis Mills mall: Plenty of shopping and there is a ice rink where the Blues practice at times.

Union Station downtown is also good shopping as well as has a Hard Rock Cafe. (The brownie sundae is huge. My sis and I couldn’t even finish it)

Imo’s another tradition for St Louis. Thin crust with St Louis cheese Provel.

Gus pretzels

Ted Drewes, which is St. Louis’s famous frozen custard stand. They have two locations. One is supposed to be on Old route 66. I am not sure if that is the one on Chippewa or the one on Grand.

Places to stay. I would stay either in St Charles or in Earth City. I hear they are building up downtown, but I still wouldn’t want to stay there.

I have lived in the city, south county, St Ann/ Bridgeton, St Charles, & Chesterfield. I prefer Chesterfield and St Charles or even Earth City if visiting.

Also if you go over to St Charles as well there are plenty of things to do there as well.
Including: Katy Trail, casino, main street has so many places to eat and all kinds of shops.