Headed to St. Louis

[ISiddiqui]

From June 8th to the 19th (for work). A) Any FOFCers in St. Louis? B) What should I check out aside from the obvious touristy stuff? Share away!!

Much thanks .

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

From June 8th to the 19th (for work). A) Any FOFCers in St. Louis? B) What should I check out aside from the obvious touristy stuff? Share away!!

Much thanks .

Clark Griswold let me know that East St. Louis has some nice areas.

In all seriousness, I can speak from a food perspective. Ted Drewe's Custard joint is a must. Also, there's an area called 'The Hill' that has some fabulous Italian joints with bouncers at some of the front doors that look like they were pulled straight from a Sopranos episode. There's a River Market area that's also nice with a lot of restaurants. Imo's Pizza is a local favorite, though I'm personally not a huge fan. They have several casinos as well. The Magic House is a fun place to visit. The Zoo and the Science Center are right next to each other and both are very nice. New Busch Stadium is also very nice.

Also, panerd and MizzouRah both live in that area.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

From June 8th to the 19th (for work). A) Any FOFCers in St. Louis? B) What should I check out aside from the obvious touristy stuff? Share away!!

Much thanks .

Where are you staying? I live in Troy.. which is about 45 mins away and work in Chesterfield, about 20 mins away.

You could catch the Cardinals vs Detroit 16th-18th.. hit the Brewery for a tour... go to the top of the arch...

Here is a good site: 25 Things to Do in St. Louis

Let me know if you're free to meet up.. we have some other STL folks around here.

[MizzouRah]

If you like thin crust pizza, try IMO's or Pirrone's Pizzeria 314-839-3633 (my favorite).

[ISiddiqui]

I'm actually staying at the Westin by the Cards' Stadium . Yeah, they had a government rate .

I was thinking of catching a game (the stadium looks beautiful). The Arch is a must as well.

And I will be free to meet up on the weekend (12th-14th) or any weekday after 6 PM (unfortunately no Cards home games on the weekend ).

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

I'm actually staying at the Westin by the Cards' Stadium . Yeah, they had a government rate .

I was thinking of catching a game (the stadium looks beautiful). The Arch is a must as well.

And I will be free to meet up on the weekend (12th-14th) or any weekday after 6 PM (unfortunately no Cards home games on the weekend ).

There is the "wing ding" competition going on June 11th - which I am in with my friend who owns a restaurant.. it's a huge wing competition, but you have to go to a local restaurant and buy a ticket.

Ping me when you'll be available and I'll see if I can meet up for a few.. I am on 24x7 call this coming week which stinks!

[ISiddiqui]

Shall do . Thanks.

The wing competition sounds like a blast, though, btw.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

I'm actually staying at the Westin by the Cards' Stadium . Yeah, they had a government rate .

I was thinking of catching a game (the stadium looks beautiful). The Arch is a must as well.

And I will be free to meet up on the weekend (12th-14th) or any weekday after 6 PM (unfortunately no Cards home games on the weekend ).

FYI.....the Courthouse where the Dred Scott case was heard is not too far from your hotel. You could go there to tour that place as well.

Dred scott - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Shall do . Thanks.

The wing competition sounds like a blast, though, btw.

If you love chicken wings.. this is the place to be!!! We are doing our normal hot wing and this year I'm doing a praline pecan wing.


BCI Foundation Event - 11th Wing Ding

Tickets go VERY fast though!

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

FYI.....the Courthouse where the Dred Scott case was heard is not too far from your hotel. You could go there to tour that place as well.

Dred scott - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cool. Seems like its right by the arch.

[Samdari]

A very wrong turn looking for the Casino Queen once took me to Brooklyn, Illinois.

Brooklyn, Illinois - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Notice in the article the seemingly conflicting ideas of "very rural" and "most of the town's income comes from the adult industry." The "strip" of adult clubs is basically a rural crossroads where the corners of cornfields have been cut down to accomodate trailers, shacks and (seemingly) outhouse sized establishments touting live nude girls. Its a can't miss.

[panerd]

Originally Posted by Samdari

A very wrong turn looking for the Casino Queen once took me to Brooklyn, Illinois.

Brooklyn, Illinois - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Notice in the article the seemingly conflicting ideas of "very rural" and "most of the town's income comes from the adult industry." The "strip" of adult clubs is basically a rural crossroads where the corners of cornfields have been cut down to accomodate trailers, shacks and (seemingly) outhouse sized establishments touting live nude girls. Its a can't miss.

Brooklyn actually has two of the better strip clubs in the St. Louis area. (You have to cross the river as Missouri/St Louis law still thinks it's 1850 and has some of the stricter strip club laws I have ever seen in my life) It is a seedy part of town but isn't the worst part of East St. Louis you could end up in.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by panerd

Brooklyn actually has two of the better strip clubs in the St. Louis area. (You have to cross the river as Missouri/St Louis law still thinks it's 1850 and has some of the stricter strip club laws I have ever seen in my life) It is a seedy part of town but isn't the worst part of East St. Louis you could end up in.

DO NOT lump the rest of Missouri into the silly laws in St. Louis. KC has strip clubs all over the place. We don't discriminate against young ladies who are clothing disabled.

[panerd]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

DO NOT lump the rest of Missouri into the silly laws in St. Louis. KC has strip clubs all over the place. We don't discriminate against young ladies who are clothing disabled.

Is it KC, MO or KC, Kan? Columbia actually has a high quality strip club (9's and 10's, probably Mizzou students) but they are juice bars and St. Louis doesn't have anything but pastie clubs. I was always under the impression that was Missouri law and not something local.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by panerd

Is it KC, MO or KC, Kan? Columbia actually has a high quality strip club (9's and 10's, probably Mizzou students) but they are juice bars and St. Louis doesn't have anything but pastie clubs. I was always under the impression that was Missouri law and not something local.

They're in KCMO. We actually have both available for your viewing pleasure. Juice bars have full nudity while the alcohol bars require a thong. There's no Missouri laws outside of the thong requirement for bars with alcohol. Whether it is allowed in the city is strictly local law. There's two strip bars 3 blocks from downtown and the Sprint Center.

Of course, I've just heard all this from someone else. I would NEVER enter one of those heinous establishments to confirm any of the above information...........

[dawgfan]

Having spent a fair amount of time in St. Louis as a visitor while my fiance was living there, here are the things I'd suggest:

- the Arch (obviously...) and dipping your toes into the Mississippi
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Forest Park and all the attractions there, including the Zoo, Science Center and Art Museum which are all free (or at least used to be); you might also want to check out a free Shakespeare performance there as well (looks like they're currently doing "The Merry Wives of Windsor" - it's a pleasant way to spend a warm evening in the city
- walking around U-City, cool neighborhood west of Forest Park - lots of interesting restaurants, shops, people-watching, etc.
- surprised it wasn't listed on the linked 25 things to do around St. Louis, but I highly, highly recommend checking out City Museum, especially at night. It's basically an interactive sculpture/jungle gym/climbing/exploring/sliding playground for adults. Definitely check this place out...
- Just north of town you can drive out to a park at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers

[ISiddiqui]

It's basically an interactive sculpture/jungle gym/climbing/exploring/sliding playground for adults.

SWEET!

[tarcone]

Yeah the City Museum is a great place to visit. The Hill for great Italian food. The Landing and Soulard for night time activities and AB brewery is in Soulard. Forest Park rocks.
A concrete at Ted Drewes would be a fun diversion. In fact I need to take my family back there for a one.

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

SWEET!

It's incredibly fun. Wear shoes rather than sandals/flip-flops, and wear clothes that you wouldn't worry about getting smudged. Beyond that, go nuts - it's one of the coolest places I've ever been.

[ISiddiqui]

Ah, I barely ever wear flip flops / sandals anyway . I'll be safe! Let's see how many of my fellow training classmates I can entice there .

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Ah, I barely ever wear flip flops / sandals anyway . I'll be safe! Let's see how many of my fellow training classmates I can entice there .

It's a good social activity. Especially if there's an attractive girl you wouldn't mind following closely behind as you climb up stuff and squeeze through narrow passages...

[illinifan999]

There's a restaurant about a half hour outside of St. Louis called Lotawata Creek in Fairview Heights, IL. Not only is the food excellent and reasonably priced, they have the largest portions of food I have ever seen. Their rolls are also the best rolls I've ever had. Simply a very good restaurant.

hxxp://www.lotawata.com/

[MizzouRah]

Where is this Brooklyn, Illinios area you're talking about?



Perfect end to a Cardinals win... not that I would know.

[ISiddiqui]

Back from St. Louis.

Interesting town. Downtown is D-E-A-D most of the time. Tried St Louis pizza twice. Thought it was "interesting" (not bad, but not great) at Joey B's on the Landing (LaClede's) and thought it was fabulous at Imo's. Tried Paddy's BBQ, but they ran out of ribs (no, seriously). Went to a Cards game (and they won).

Didn't get to go to the City Museum. However, I did go to Forest Park and the Art Museum is TOP NOTCH. Some great stuff there. And, of course, made it to the Arch.

[MizzouRah]

Sounds like you had a decent time.. did you get bacon on your Imo's pizza? I love the way they just put whole strips of bacon on their pizzas.

[ISiddiqui]

Nah, I got jalapenos and sausage .

It was ok, but I think I would have had more fun if I had a car.

[MizzouRah]

Totally forgot you were coming to town.. too bad we didn't meet for a couple of cold beers.

[ISiddiqui]

Yeah, would have been nice on a weekend, but at the Westin they charge for internet, so I only had sporadic access (free in the lobby). Also why I didn't post on FOFC for 2 weeks.

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Didn't get to go to the City Museum.

Boo! That should be first thing on the list for anyone visiting the city - there's really nothing quite like it anywhere else.

(And plus, who knows how long it'll be open in it's current format before someone gets hurt and sues them out of business...)

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Back from St. Louis.

Interesting town. Downtown is D-E-A-D most of the time.

No one can accuse you of fibbing. That's a pretty accurate description of the city in a nutshell.

[tarcone]

Pockets of activity during the evenings. Very accurate descripition.

[ISiddiqui]

Yeah, some stuff at the Landing and a few places on Washington St (like close to 14th and the Kitchen K bar seemed to be ok), but some was eerily quiet and empty.

[dawgfan]

I was fascinated at how you could drive two blocks in St. Louis and go from upscale neighborhood to empty, decrepit lots. I suppose that's a symptom of a city that's contracting...