Been a while since I posted last, I know, life has been busy with 2 kids under 3 years old! So, here is where I come back to seek recommendations from the forum.

I'll be traveling to St. Louis mid October for a conference which I'll be presenting at. Right now just waiting on travel authorizations to go through before making my reservations. The plan is to arrive on Wednesday (12pm) and likely won't leave until Saturday 5pm flight. (We present at like 9am on Saturday morning ).

The conference is at the America's Center and will most likely be staying at the Marriott St. Louis Grand or the Magnolia Hotel, maybe the Hampton Inn Gateway Arch.

Lunch and dinner are on our own, so I'll be looking for places to eat & drink in that general vicinity. I've never been to St. Louis, but the two things on my list are the Arch tour and Budweiser tours. I love beer, not really anything they make, but they are historical though, so that might be cool, plus I want to see the Clydesdales.

Is the area generally safe? I will have all of Wednesday once I get there to sight-see and most of Saturday as well, and might be able to see some things Thursday & Friday. I also have evenings open. Things I definitely want to see or avoid?

Oh, I will be traveling with a colleague, but I don't know what her plans are, she is like me and fairly private, so I may or may not have a companion for meals.

Possibly a SigForum member dinner one night? Thank you in advance for any recommendations or tips you can provide!

Tom

This message has been edited. Last edited by: tlbailey1,

The area's ok, not the greatest after dark, but then again there's not a whole lot to do down there after dark anyway. At lunch Baileys Range is on Olive Street downtown and 2-3 blocks from America's Center, good burgers in a cool old building.

For dinner I'd grab a cab/Uber and head south to Soulard, a newer (old revitalized) area with a lot of food/dining options (Tucker's Place is a good low key steak house) or down to the Hill for some Italian food.

West of downtown is Pappy's Smokehouse, also on Olive. Great food and a decent area near the college. Also out that way (albeit a little further) is Piccione Pastry on Delmar, great Italian pastries and breakfasts.

Gus's Fried Chicken on Manchester Rd also opened about a year ago up there, great Memphis fried chicken. I will say I've never been to this location so I can't vouch for it, but all the locations that I've hit in Memphis have always been great.

St. Louis has many great restaurants. I don't know what your per diem or budget is, but here are some of the best:

http://www.tonysstlouis.com
http://www.kemolls.com
https://www.charliegittos.com/#1

Downtown is pretty safe as long as you are out in normal hours, in normal places.

I am sure your hotels can provide many other suggestions.

The casino is nearby, if you are so inclined.

https://lumiereplace.com/casino/

Cardinals are almost always in the playoffs but not too sure about this year.

quote:

Originally posted by PD:
Cardinals are almost always in the playoffs but not too sure about this year.

Not gonna happen! :

I will send you an email later tonight.

You don't mention if you'll have the family with you or a car available. Regardless, Forest Park has a free Art Museum, a free Missouri History Museum, a free Science center, and a free Zoo. You can also take tour of the Basillica on Lindell Ave or take a nice walk at the Botanical Gardens. Good restaurants can be found in Soullard and Lafayette square.

Pappy's gets really crowded quick, a second related restaurant is Bogart's in Soullard.

Hopefully, Chellim or KevinCW will step in with some recommendations, they've been here longer than I have.

Ken

Thanks so far! Nope, no wife or kids on this trip, unfortunately. I will not have a car, likely just the shuttle to and from the airport. I can always pay for my own cab/Uber, but won't be reimbursed, which is not an issue, I probably will need a cab for Budweiser & Arch adventures anyway.

It's ok about the Cardinals, my Braves haven't been contenders for a while now... Although I was secretly hoping both teams were in the playoffs and just happened to be playing in a divisional series. Alas, no luck.

I haven't done but a cursory glance on Trip Advisor for things to do, and I didn't really find anything that makes me want to skip out on the conference to go do, but could always be persuaded otherwise.

quote:

Originally posted by KenS:
You don't mention if you'll have the family with you or a car available. Regardless, Forest Park has a free Art Museum, a free Missouri History Museum, a free Science center, and a free Zoo. You can also take tour of the Basillica on Lindell Ave or take a nice walk at the Botanical Gardens. Good restaurants can be found in Soullard and Lafayette square.

Ken

+1. There is also the Botanical Garden which is one of the best in the country and the Zoo is also one of the best in the country.

Most of these thing are in St. Louis City. If you want to venture into the County there are also tons of nice restaurants in West County & South County. Although I lived in North County for 37 years I would avoid that area now. Also do NOT go into East St. Louis (ESL). ESL is not safe at all and is on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River.

quote:

Originally posted by tlbailey1:
Been a while since I posted last, I know, life has been busy with 2 kids under 3 years old! So, here is where I come back to seek recommendations from the forum.

I'll be traveling to St. Louis mid October for a conference which I'll be presenting at. Right now just waiting on travel authorizations to go through before making my reservations. The plan is to arrive on Wednesday (12pm) and likely won't leave until Saturday 5pm flight. (We present at like 9am on Saturday morning ).

The conference is at the America's Center and will most likely be staying at the Marriott St. Louis Grand or the Magnolia Hotel, maybe the Hampton Inn Gateway Arch.

Lunch and dinner are on our own, so I'll be looking for places to eat & drink in that general vicinity. I've never been to St. Louis, but the two things on my list are the Arch tour and Budweiser tours. I love beer, not really anything they make, but they are historical though, so that might be cool, plus I want to see the Clydesdales.

Is the area generally safe? I will have all of Wednesday once I get there to sight-see and most of Saturday as well, and might be able to see some things Thursday & Friday. I also have evenings open. Things I definitely want to see or avoid?

Oh, I will be traveling with a colleague, but I don't know what her plans are, she is like me and fairly private, so I may or may not have a companion for meals.

Possibly a SigForum member dinner one night? Thank you in advance for any recommendations or tips you can provide!

Tom

Ok, here goes.

1. If you won't have a car, you will have 2 options to get downtown from the airport. You can take the Metrolink (runs directly from airport to the convention center, or a cab/shuttle) The train is ok, provided, for no reason at all, you exit it. The train itself is safe, it is the platforms that are dangerous. I refuse to ride it generally. It runs (west to east) through the "hood" to the airport, through the absolute worst of teh "hood" to downtown attractions, then across the river through East St. Louis (ya, THAT East st. Louis) to Scott Airforce Base.) The exit by the convention center is literally one block away, so a short walk. The train it self is fine and pretty safe. Luckily it is a straight shot and requires no transfers. You will never have to exit the train until you get to your destination. That I might do.

NOw, from the convention center, under no circumstances, should you EVER walk more than 2 blocks (and by blocks, i mean literally 2 street corners) north. More than 5 blocks, you should be in the company of a rifle company. More than 8 blocks you better have artillery and air support on the radio.... DON'T DO IT. You can go south quite a bit, with everything from the convention center, or "Dome" where the Rams used to play, south past Busch Stadium, you'll be fine if you have a head on your shoulders. You might see some aggressive panhandlers but usually if you are confident, they will get lost.

If you go west, you can go about 10 t0 15 blocks before it gets real sketchy. There are TONS of good eats and drinks south and west of the dome.

If casinos are your thing, the is one a few blocks east on the river front. The casino itself is safe, and has some decent eats, but the parking lots nearby are total shit. People will be watching "high rollers" or people dressed well or flashing cash or driving nice cars. Take a cab/uber, and go directly to/from your destination.

If you want to venture out, I'd go the the Soulard neighborhood. It is reasonably safe (as safe as anywhere is here in the 2nd most dangerous city in the US) and has lots of more adult bars/eateries. (by adult, I don't mean skin bars, I mean more live music, decent food, or places where you can actually hang out and talk, not dance clubs.) While there are places that cater to the young crowd, more places target eitehr broad audiences, or the 30 plus crowd. If I were gonna take you out, this is where I would take you.

If you want the stereotypical "adult" establishments, St. Louis (or actually, the IL side of St Louis) does some excellent adult entertainment clubs where girls will disrobe for money, but they are in shitty areas, and while themselves are safe, go directly to and from them. Don't stray.

As to more general entertainment, you will be just a couple blocks from the St, Louis Arch, which is WELL worth the visit. (It is a federal park, so absolutely no carrying any weapons of any kind). But a good museum of the westward expansion of the US from the LA Purchase to the "cowboy" era, and well worth the price of admission. Also you can go up in the arch and see the entire area from the highest point in the city. Also well worth it.

The St. Louis Zoo is world class, but takes an entire day to do well. Highly suggest it. You can take the train directly from the convention center. Also the St. Louis Science is next to the zoo, and is an interactive educational museum. Also well worth it.

Also, there is a brand new "International Blues Museum" two blocks from the convention center. It is a bit pricy to enter, about 30 bucks, but is pretty cool, especially if you are a music lover, of Jazz, Blues, and even lots of Southern Rock.

Right next door to that is Sugarfire BBQ, which is pretty good BBQ. If you have a real chance, go to Pappy's BBQ. The absolutely best BBQ St. Louis has to offer. Go for lunch as when they sell out, they close. Usually the line is around an hour long... plan accordingly.

If you want to get a ride.driver, go to Ted Drew's frozen Custard. The best damn ice cream place you have ever tasted. In an ok area as well, no big threats there.

If you want to tempt fate... Check out Crown Candy Kitchen... THis would violate my first statement... YOu would have to go into north St. Louis... So absolutely do not, DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES DO THIS AT NIGHT. I cannot state that enough. Go for lunch and get a milkshake. Worth the risk of a bullet. Famous nationwide for milkshakes and has been featured on the Food Network on numerous shows.

I'm sure I will ahve more, email me and let me know when you're gonna be here. I"m sure I have at least one day off during that time. I'd be happy to show you around for a night (and even drive) and maybe we can set up something with all the folks here.

Oh ya... The brewery is at the South end of the Soulard neighborhood.

The tour is very good, and pay the couple bucks for the updated tour. You get 2 beers at the end of the tour. I'd make a night/evening of it and do the tour, find an eatry in the area (Tuckers steakhouse at 12th and RUssel a few blocks away is a good place for a very decent 35 dollar steak meal) and then hit some local spots nearby. There will be about 40, if you go on a friday, there will be live music at many.

Kevin, I live in Springfield MO. I go to STL several times a year. Best summary I have ever seen of STL areas and danger. I printed it for my wife and her friends who never think of STL that way. Appreciate the heads up.

quote:

Originally posted by ilikefirearms:
Kevin, I live in Springfield MO. I go to STL several times a year. Best summary I have ever seen of STL areas and danger. I printed it for my wife and her friends who never think of STL that way. Appreciate the heads up.

To both you and the OP...

I have long had a standing offer to any member of the forum here...

Anyone in town need only let me know, and I will show them around or at least take them out for some dinner/drinks and good conversation.

Met quite a few good folks from here in the past few years.

Thata a great offer. My brother in law lives on the Hill. Next time up that way for a hockey game I'll see about getting an extra ticket if you want to talk guns, drink beer and watch the Blues.

/sarcasm

Noooo... I would HATE that....

Sarcasm/

Be careful. The NAACP just issued a "travel advisory" for Missouri, saying you stand a good chance of being shot by a cop.

quote:

Originally posted by GaryBF:

quote:

Originally posted by PD:
Cardinals are almost always in the playoffs but not too sure about this year.

Not gonna happen! :

Oh ye of little faith... they were 12 games back in 2011.
After last nights impressive victory over Milwaukee... you never know.

quote:

Possibly a SigForum member dinner one night?

Count me in. I'd love to hang out with you guys.

KevinCW already gave a nice summary, so I don't have a whole lot to add. Great food here. You can't go wrong with any of the places mentioned.
I would second the BBQ places: "Sugarfire BBQ, which is pretty good BBQ. If you have a real chance, go to Pappy's BBQ. The absolutely best BBQ St. Louis has to offer."
We could all meet up at one of those places one evening.

Enjoy!

quote:

Originally posted by Fredward:
Be careful. The NAACP just issued a "travel advisory" for Missouri, saying you stand a good chance of being shot by a cop.

I'll take my chances with the cops... even with Kevin out there!

If you're there on October 18th, the Blues host the Blackhawks. That might be the best October game in the entire NHL schedule.

If you haven't already figured it out, KevinCW is the man when it comes to recommendations. He helped me and my youngest daughter out last year for a trip up, and nothing he told me was incorrect (though to be fair, I didn't check out the midget stripper bar).

I did a quick perusal of the thread and did not see this restaurant mentioned. If you are mobile and like prime rib, make a trip to Kreis' Tavern. Best I have ever had, literally melt in your mouth. In the SL burbs, worth the trip.

Adios,

Pizza Bob