St. Louis

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

I would never have imagined to come to STL, but my university is a partner of the University of MO, and I had decided to spend my exchange year in the US, so, STL, here I come!

I heard contrasting opinions about STL, from people telling me it’s like one, if not THE, most dangerous city in America, to others telling me “it’s not that bad, it’s a nice city” and still others saying that there are really bad areas, and downtown is like a ghost town…

I don’t know yet if any of that is true, as I will arrive in STL at the beginning of August. So, now I really don’t know what to expect, but I guess it will be a typical American city, where good things (good areas?) and bad things (bad areas?) cohabit, pretty much like everywhere else.

I hope the city will offer me plenty of opportunities for entertainment, and many things to go/do. I’m a young student, I want it all!

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.

I am currently living in Raleigh NC but lived in STL for 6 years during my 20’s when I was single and childless. I have been out of the area for 5 years now. I now have a 4 year old son and will be relocating back to STL very soon. I am looking for a home to rent or buy that is in a good safe area either in the city limits or not too far outside. Also needing advice from fellow ST Louisians about good schools public or magnet. I havent been back to visit for quiet some time so I am wondering how it has changed?? I lived in South City/ South Grand area and it wasnt too good for families except maybe the Holly Hills area and of course the north wasnt good back then. Can anyone give good advice for relocating?????

...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.

There’s so much to do here. I live about 3 hours away, I don’t get to visit the city as much as I’d like to.

Soulard Market features fresh produce at great prices. The market also has a variety of local vendors of interesting items from pepper sauce to jewelry. On a Saturday morning, Soulard is a vibrant bustling atmosphere.