Just back from a short trip to St. Louis up I-44 from Springfield. Staying at the Holiday Inn Downtown our two main reasons for the trip were Phantom of the Opera and a St. Louis Cardinal game.

Would recommend the Holiday Inn for comfort and courtesy. $10 per day in-and-out parking. During the day we toured the city where we had once lived and have oft visited. What amazing changes...this is a city being reborn. Downtown and to the west there are loft apartments being created out of old warehouses and office buildings. And many neighborhoods have been transformed with stately old brick houses being rehabbed plus new construction. Out Olive and Pine, St. Louis U., Lafayette Park, or Soulard areas and you see these brand new attactive houses. I can remember how after the tornado of about 1960 there was a brief Gaslight Square coffee house era and then years of decline becoming a run down slum, but now one sees many new houses in the Gaslight residential area. (to be continued)

St. Louis trip- part 2

First stop on Thursday at Soulard Market with its fresh produce and such. Then to Lafayette Park, a pleasant neighborhood on the near south side. We enjoyed lunch at Sqwires at Park & 18th in an old factory...would recommend entree of mixed greens, beets, nuts with seafood (jerked grilled marlin). www.sqwires.com.
Our afternoon was at the Botanical Gardens which has a special exhibit of Chihuly glass: www.mobot.org. Dinner at Dooleys Ltd. downtown...good burgers and beer.

In the evening "Phantom of the Opera" at the Fox Theatre :www.fabulousfox.com
What a show, creazy story but with great singing, staging. Can see it up till July 1. Upcoming shows: "Les Miserables" for one week July 18-23, "The Light in the Piazza" next January, "The Lion King" next summer.
You must go to the Fox sometime; it's like Radio City Music Hall.

ozarksbill (to be continued)

(St. Louis continued)
Next day driving around tos ee more of the changing city of St. Louis. But also a stop at the Scott Joplin House near northwest, 2658 Delmar. This is where he wrote "The Entertainers." We didn't go up in The Arch but that is a favorite...did stop off for a quiet and cool moment inside the nearby St. Louis Cathedral.

We certainly didn't go to the riverboat casinos but for some there is a riverboat blues cruises on the Mississippi...gatewayarch.com. Other ideas: Muny Opera in Forest Park with "Aida," "The Wizard of Oz," "Gypsy," etc. in July, Festival of Nations at Tower Grove Park July 22,23, Eric Clapton concert Sept. 18 (ericclapton.com). (to be continued)

St. Louis trip...finished

What a wonderful warm Friday night at the new Busch Stadium for a Cardinal game. You can grab a hot dog across the street at Mike Shannons which is like a noisy tailgate party. Cardinals did beat the Rockies although for most of the game it was close. But then the Cards are the best team in baseball, right?
You'll never see such a sea of red!

All in all, it a nice short trip to St. Louis which is a desination I recommend. Didn't mention the zoo or art museum and more. Any questions?

ozarksbill
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That is a great trip report!! I enjoyed reading about my hometown!!!

I always forget to suggest the Catheral Basilica, which is a shame because it rivals any church I have seen it Europe. It has more mosaics than any church in the world too!!!

Well done Ozaksbill - great information and websites.

Sandy

Guess I should add a note about Union Station and also University City Loop including the Blueberry Hill eatery
/entertainment spot. Maybe someone else can give details. Next trip to St. Louis we'll take these in as well as another art museum exhibit.

When a grad school kid we lived in U City and I remember catching the old Creve Coeur streetcar for the Loop. In those days Creve Coeur was "way out." Then in 1958-63 we enjoyed years in Carondolet, a nice old German southside neighborhood. Used to walk to Bellerive Park for a Mississippi overlook. Wonder how that area haschanged!

ozarksbill

ttt for bobrad

I was just in StL on Memorial Day for the Gypsy Caravan flea market. Stayed at the Hyatt at Union Station. I've been there before, and enjoyed Union Station and all the dining options. This time, though, there were a number of empty storefronts. Is there a decline in the numbers of visitors to the station?

Everyone had such high hope when Union Station opened in the mid 80's but it never seemed to find its spot amongst other shopping destinations. Rent was high so shop owners had a hard time, wierd mix of stores and places to eat, parking was expensive, and it just didn't ever feel like a safe place to go (no matter how much security they added). Its a shame because its a beautiful old train station with such history!

simpsonc510, unfortunately Union Station just can't seem to keep many stores or restaurants. I work directly behind Union Station, and our office building shares the same parking lot, so I often go there for lunch. Its a neat building so its a shame to see things shutting down. I'm hoping that as the population in the downtown area goes up (they are building tons of lofts in the area), Union Station will see a revitalization.

Ozarksbills, sounds like you had a great trip!

Tracy

Sandy ,

Thanks

Another helpful website is www.explorestlouis.com

Sandy

Since I'm doing a little touting of (overlooked) St. Louis I should mention The Hill. Cunettos is one of several Italian eateries there catering to families. Also a must is the Art Museum, only remaining structure from the 1904 World's Fair, where we've taken in a number of topnotch exhibits.

One trip to St. Louis was for the centennial of the Fair below Art Hill in Forest Park. Another trip a year ago January was to Barnes-Jewish Hospital for mitral heart valve repair...and kudos for excellent care and to surgeon Marc Moon.

ozarksbill