tell me about downtown st louis...

[foolishmortal]

i will be attending a convention 3/27 - 3/28 staying across the street from convention center. so what are some must see's, must eats, must drinks for someone who has never stepped foot in st louis, keeping in mind acess to a car is not likely and the convention is during day.

 

[tinkgurl]

I really recommend checking out the Arch. Even if you don't go up in it, there's great stuff to look at underneath it.

We also like to go to Laclede's Landing, which is near the Arch. There are some great restaurants and sidewalk cafes there as well.

 

[OK!]

I really recommend checking out the Arch. Even if you don't go up in it, there's great stuff to look at underneath it.

We also like to go to Laclede's Landing, which is near the Arch. There are some great restaurants and sidewalk cafes there as well.

The Arch is in the middle of a nice park, so if it's decent out, that's a great place to go during lunch or just to enjoy the sun for a bit. Same goes with CityGarden, which is a few blocks away (across the street from where I worked when I still had to commute into the office--look for the 30-some story smoked-glass building); it just opened last spring-ish, if I'm remembering correctly. Kiener Plaza is also a nice spot to sit and eat lunch if the weather's good (and it's impossible and completely futile to predict if it will be. It could be 80 degrees or it could snow. It snowed a bit for the Cards' home opener last year.)

(Kiener Plaza)



The problem is the lack of car. While they are "revitalizing" the downtown area, there's so much more to do that's within about 15 minutes (by car) of downtown (Art Museum, Science Center, Zoo, etc.)

The Cards will still be in FL for Spring Training, so that's out. But the stadium is a nice walk away from the convention center. They play classic game audio over some speakers during the day (I assume they still do...it's been a while since I was there) that's audible outside, and the team stores and stuff are open. Oh, and they've got marked on the sidewalks outside where the outfield fence and one of the foul lines were in Old Busch, which is cool if you're a baseball dork like me.

The tacky bomb-crater-lookin' thing and construction equipment are no longer there. Blessedly, they got all of that cleaned up before the All-Star Game last summer.


Please excuse the awful cell phone pics.

 

[foolishmortal]

The Arch is in the middle of a nice park, so if it's decent out, that's a great place to go during lunch or just to enjoy the sun for a bit. Same goes with CityGarden, which is a few blocks away (across the street from where I worked when I still had to commute into the office--look for the 30-some story smoked-glass building); it just opened last spring-ish, if I'm remembering correctly. Kiener Plaza is also a nice spot to sit and eat lunch if the weather's good (and it's impossible and completely futile to predict if it will be. It could be 80 degrees or it could snow. It snowed a bit for the Cards' home opener last year.)

(Kiener Plaza)



The problem is the lack of car. While they are "revitalizing" the downtown area, there's so much more to do that's within about 15 minutes (by car) of downtown (Art Museum, Science Center, Zoo, etc.)

The Cards will still be in FL for Spring Training, so that's out. But the stadium is a nice walk away from the convention center. They play classic game audio over some speakers during the day (I assume they still do...it's been a while since I was there) that's audible outside, and the team stores and stuff are open. Oh, and they've got marked on the sidewalks outside where the outfield fence and one of the foul lines were in Old Busch, which is cool if you're a baseball dork like me.

The tacky bomb-crater-lookin' thing and construction equipment are no longer there. Blessedly, they got all of that cleaned up before the All-Star Game last summer.


Please excuse the awful cell phone pics.

ack......IM SUCH A BASEBALL GEEK (HAVE THE MLB LOGO TATTED ON MY LEFT ARM) will be checking the stadium and the markers for sure, also not a cards fans but will stop by team store.

recommendations for food and drink?

 

[tinkgurl]

You will definately think the stadium is cool!

 

[KPeveler]

You can also grab the metrolink out to Forest Park - the zoo is free, as is the Art Museum!

 

[foolishmortal]

i wish I had time for the zoo or museums but I will be at convention during day, so most stuff will be early evening or at night. I know the ncaa bball tourny will be in town I might grab a ticket for that 1 night.

 

[OK!]

Mike Shannon's is outstanding but pricey. LOVE their steaks. I'm not sure what restaurants might be in the hotels down there, but there are several chain places across the street from Kiener Plaza...last I was there, there was a Hooters, Friday's, and Hardee's, I think. Shannon's has an Imo's (pizza) right by it but if you're not "adventurous," pizza-wise, you might not like it. It's on cracker-thin crust and has provel cheese on it, which is made with cheddar, Swiss, and provolone cheese. It's St. Louis-style pizza and I love it, but not everybody does.

Speaking of baseball geekhood, they MIGHT still have some of the All-Star Game Arches over by the courthouse near Kiener Plaza...they were there when I was last downtown, which was for the Cardinals Winter Warm-Up in mid-January. Those are pretty cool.

 

[tinkgurl]

If you love fudge, go to Union Station!

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Mosiac on Washington Ave is good and so is BTs pizza (12th and Washington). BTs is more like NY pizza than St. Louis or Chicago. Kemoll's is good and so is Charlie Gittos. Kemoll's is a bit expensive but Charlie Gitto's downtown is not too expensive. Visit the Arch, the Old Courthouse and the Old Cathedral (all downtown). The stadium is also fun and if you like hockey, I'd recommend a Blues game (they're fun to watch).

Down at Laclede's Landing the Spaghetti Factory is good (and cheap). Morgan Street Brewery is also good. It's just on the other side of the highway from downtown...you can take the Metrolink to the station and walk a few blocks to most of the Landing.

You'd need to grab a cab to go to the Tap Room at 21st (ish) and Locust, but we love it. Good beer, awesome fish and chips and the sticky toffee pudding is to die for! It's a short cab ride and well worth it.

Hope you enjoy my hometown!

Karen