Part
3
St. Louis has more to offer
By
Penny Zimmerman-Wills
[OCT.
6, 2000]
ST.
LOUIS: Whether you want to try your luck at one of six riverboat
casinos, shop for antiques or dance the night away, St. Louis has
all this and more. It’s hard to get bored in this city on the
Mississippi River.
|
[Part
1 included the Arch, the Missouri Botanical Garden and Shaw
Arboretum.]
[Part 2: Soulard
Market, Anheuser-Busch Brewery, St. Louis Zoo, Grant’s Farm, St. Louis Art Museum,
The American Kennel
Club Museum of the Dog, Busch Stadium, Sophia M. Sachs
Butterfly House and Education Center, Union Station.]
Sure,
this Missouri town offers the same opportunities for visitors as
many large metropolitan areas — arts, culture, entertainment and
shopping. But St. Louis provides more than just an abundance of
places to eat, be entertained and spend money. This city has soul,
history and enough grit to give it a down-to-earth charm. From its
red brick, tree-lined cobblestone streets to its modern, stainless
steel Gateway Arch recognized around the world, the city has a look
all of its own.
The
city is comprised of many distinct neighborhoods, all with a set of
unique personalities and history of their own. From the downtown
area along the river — where restored warehouses which once held
cotton, tobacco and other steamboat cargo now house clubs and
restaurants — to the modern casinos and shopping malls, there
truly is something for everyone.
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Entertainment/music
St.
Louis has firm roots in American music. W.C. Handy made the city
famous in his song "The St. Louis Blues," one of the world’s
most recorded pieces of music. Scott Joplin was a regular in the
city’s music scene during the time of the 1904 World’s Fair —
and created some of his most important works while playing in the
city’s clubs. Jazz influences from New Orleans blended with Joplin’s
established ragtime, and the combination became what is now known as
the St. Louis blues.
St.
Louis is the gateway to America’s Music Corridor, the blues, jazz,
ragtime and rock-and-roll tour that links the musical heritage of
the lower Mississippi River region from St. Louis to New Orleans.
Winner of the Travel Industry Associations’ prestigious Odyssey
Award for best cultural tourism program in the country, the corridor
explores the history of American music at sites such as the Scott
Joplin House in St. Louis, Sun Studios in Memphis and the Jazz
Museum in New Orleans.
Some
of my favorite places to hear live blues and jazz include the
Broadway Oyster Bar and Mike and Min’s. Broadway, located at 736
S. Broadway, is not a place to wear your Sunday finest — the
shabby interior decor is a proud part of its charm, and no apologies
are made for the layer of dust. Despite the tacky seafood-themed
objects lining the walls, this local watering hole is packed when
local and national bands perform. The food, which includes
Cajun-style sandwiches and raw oysters on the half shell, is very
good for a casual night on the town. When the weather is nice, most
people prefer sitting outside in the enclosed patio area.
[to top of second
column in this section]
|
Mike
and Min’s, located at 925 Geyer, is another local favorite place
in the Soulard neighborhood to hear live blues bands. Established in
1937, the relaxed atmosphere and walk-in cooler have been a hit with
customers for many years.
Turvey’s
on the Green, in the DeBalivere area close to Forest Park, is also a
great place to hear live jazz and Motown music on Friday night. It’s
not too crowded and offers a very mellow atmosphere — it’s more
like sitting in your own living room.
For
a more lively atmosphere and a trip back in time, try Polly Esthers,
a retro disco club with an illuminated dance floor and Partridge
Family bus.
For
more standard fare, try Blueberry Hill, at 6504 Delmar. This St.
Louis landmark, filled with collections of pop culture trinkets, is
a total tourist trap but still a fun place to have a hamburger and
learn a little about music history while listening to music.
It’s
also worth your effort to stop and stroll around the Loop
neighborhood, a short drive west of Forest Park, where sidewalks are
sprinkled with brass stars and biographies honoring the most famous
people who once called St. Louis home, including Chick Berry, Tina
Turner, Miles Davis and many other music legends.
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Although
the Laclede Landing area is packed with places offering live music,
the customers tend to be very young, and the bars are crowded and
very noisy. If it’s a quieter brand of blues you’re after, the
Soulard area is a better bet for those who actually want to be able
to have a conversation with their companion. Located just five
minutes south of the Arch, the music clubs are housed in old brick
buildings.
For
an updated list of what’s playing in the area at any given time,
pick up a copy of The Riverfront Times, which can be obtained free
at the Visitor Information Center at America’s Center at Seventh
and Washington streets, or at many local restaurants, clubs and
public buildings throughout the city.
(To
be continued)
[Penny
Zimmerman-Wills]
|
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Part
2
St. Louis attracts you for another
visit
By
Penny Zimmerman-Wills
[OCT.
5, 2000]
When
you think of St. Louis, certain images immediately come to mind: the
Arch, Cardinal baseball and Budweiser.
|
[Part
1 included the Arch, the Missouri Botanical Garden and Shaw
Arboretum.]
Soulard Market
While
this outdoor market may not make the top 10 tourist attractions on
some lists, there is no better place to get a real sense of the
history of St. Louis than a stroll through this outdoor market,
located in a charming, restored 19th-century district of town. The
market is in one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, lined with
restored red brick homes and townhouses. Soulard, named after a
Frenchman who surveyed the area for the king of Spain, has been home
to the Soulard Market since 1779 and continues to provide local
residents and visitors with fresh produce, baked goods, spices, meat
and flowers. At its current location near downtown since 1838, it’s
worth a treat to your senses just to stroll among the fresh
tomatoes, melons, corn or whatever is in season. And you might
receive an added treat by striking up a conversation with one of the
70 local vendors, many of whom have been selling their products at
the market for many years.
Anheuser-Busch Brewery
What’s
a trip to the city of "the king of beers" without a trip
to the historic brewery that started it all? Located at Interstate
55 and Arsenal Street, the world’s largest brewer also owns the
world’s most famous horse team. Free tours includes a look at the
century-old brewhouse, aging cellar, bottling and canning process,
and Clydesdale stables. Adults get a few samples of cold beer.
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St. Louis Zoo
It’s
hard not to have fun at a zoo, and St. Louis offers one of the best.
Considered one of the top 10 zoos in the nation, this attraction is
home to 6,000 animals and is located on 83 picturesque acres in
Forest Park. The zoo also includes a railroad, movies, restaurants
and gift shops. New features of the zoo include the first phase of
the River’s Edge animal discovery area, where the Lords of the
Forest exhibit is home to Raja, the zoo’s popular young elephant.
Other naturalistic habitat areas for the rest of the elephant
family, as well as for cheetahs, hyenas and dwarf mongooses, have
also been added. A newly expanded Children’s Zoo is the place to
take the kids to interact with animals, watch otters play and feed
colorful birds.
Grant’s Farm
This
Busch family estate was once owned by Ulysses S. Grant. Located at
10501 Gravois, the farm now has animal shows, a petting area and a
tram ride through the wildlife preserve. A newly opened Clydesdale
Arena features a show on the Clydesdale breed of horses, its history
and relationship to Budweiser, as well as an explanation of the
breeding and training facilities and a working hitch. A portion of
the show is devoted to the Dalmatian dogs that live at the farm. The
Budweiser stables are home to approximately 35 horses, and the
Anheuser-Busch company is the world’s largest breeder of
Clydesdale horses, owning approximately 250 horses nationwide. The
farm is home to one of the breeding operations for the world-famous
Clydesdales, and as many as 15 foals are born at the farm each year.
[to top of second
column in this section]
|
St. Louis Art Museum
Where
else can you look inside a 3,000-year-old Egyptian mummy or take a
self-guided audio tour across seven continents of art? If you need a
dose of culture, this is the place. Located at 1 Fine Arts Drive in
Forest Park, the museum building was designed for the 1904 World’s
Fair and is one of the most beautiful architectural sites in the
city. The massive 13-year, $32 million renovation restored the
beauty and grandeur of the original structure, which today houses a
permanent collection of art, ranging from ancient to contemporary,
and features masterpieces of Asian art, art of the Renaissance,
Impressionism and American art. The museum is also a great place for
a relaxing Sunday brunch.
The American Kennel
Club Museum of the Dog
This
museum is a must-see for dog lovers everywhere. Located at 1721 S.
Mason Road, the museum is a unique tribute to man’s best friend.
America’s finest collection of art, artifacts and literature
dedicated to the dog are on display, which include paintings,
drawings, sculpture, artifacts, ceramics and books. Also on display
are 19th-century brass dog collars, silver trophies and the Pedigree
Hall of Fame. Each Sunday, different breeds are at the site,
greeting visitors. Regular lectures and demonstrations by working
dogs are also featured.
Busch Stadium
Fans
have been flocking to the stadium since 1966, but plans are now in
the works to demolish the stadium and build a new $370 million
arena. Many people who don’t even follow the game now know the
city’s famous Redbirds because of home-run king Mark McGwire.
Sophia M. Sachs
Butterfly House and Education Center
Located
in Faust Park, the new center is a three-story crystal palace
conservatory — home to hundreds of species of exotic butterflies
gathered from rain forests from around the world. The park also
features a 1920s carousel with more than 60 hand-carved animals, and
Faust Historical village, a collection of 19th century buildings
including Thornhill, the home of Missouri’s second governor.
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Union Station
Once
the world’s largest and busiest railroad terminal, the Union
Station on Market Street is now a popular destination with tourists
because of its cluster of more than 20 restaurants, unique shops,
free outdoor concerts by the lake, a variety of festivals and
special events, movie theater and comedy club. It’s an
entertaining place to stroll around and enjoy, rather than do
serious shopping, although specialty shops offer everything from
ties and flags to pewter and perfume.
After
window-shopping and eating dinner, you can rent a paddleboat to work
off some calories, or ride the carousel and Ferris wheel if you
prefer a less stressful form of exercise.
And
if you actually want to learn something about the historic landmark’s
100-year history, an interesting collection of letters, memorabilia,
exhibits and a self-guided tour are available.
A
final stop for many is the Fudgery, a popular candy business with
singing employees who improvise and entertain customers as they roll
out slabs of homemade, creamy fudge and pass out free samples.
(To
be continued)
[Penny
Zimmerman-Wills]
[click
here for Part 3]
|
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(Note: This
is the first in a five-part series on St. Louis, Mo. Look for the
next four installments, to feature entertainment, shopping, dining
and neighborhoods of St. Louis.)
St. Louis attracts you for another
visit
By
Penny Zimmerman-Wills
[OCT.
4, 2000]
When
you think of St. Louis, certain images immediately come to mind: the
Arch, Cardinal baseball and Budweiser.
|
Facts
about St. Louis, Mo.
*Founded
in 1764
*Nickname:
"Mound City," because of earth structures built by early
Indian civilizations
*The
stainless steel Gateway Arch opened in 1965 as a monument to the
important role the city played in America’s westward expansion.
*The
abundance of red brick, iron and other ornate features seen on many
historic homes and buildings is due in part to a steamboat fire in
1849, which destroyed one-third of the city. An ordinance passed
later required future buildings to be constructed of non-flammable
materials.
*Population:
993,000
A
listing of events, attractions and hotels can be obtained from the
Convention and Visitors Commission’s website: www.explorestlouis.com
|
![](../images/100400pics/arch1.jpg)
[Copyright 1999 Bi-State Development
Agency]
While
growing up in central Illinois, I traveled to St. Louis occasionally
and even more so as an adult to visit my college roommate, who has
lived there since graduation. But I must admit I’ve only been to
the top of the Arch one time. I’m not really a big Cardinal fan — although taking in a game at Busch
stadium is a pretty pleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon. It’s
not that these popular attractions aren’t worthy of topping just
about any list of city highlights, it’s just that there are so
many other interesting and fun things to do.
For
starters, if you’re like me and take advantage of the city’s
close proximity to Lincoln every chance you get to do some power
shopping, see a concert or spend a day at the botanical garden, you
just never have time to play tourist. And there’s really no
excuse, since one of the best things about this metropolitan city
with a small-town atmosphere, in my opinion, is that it’s so easy
to drive in and find your way around.
But
even if you’ve been to this city’s top tourist spots before, or
like me, it’s been a while, there are certain things worthy of a
second look to see why this river city is such a popular
destination.
The Arch
You
can’t miss it. Whether you enter the city by land or air, it’s
the first thing you see. The Midwest’s most famous monument is
indeed a welcoming sight and impressive no matter how many times you’ve
seen it. Designed by architect Eero Saarinen in 1965, the piece of
steel is recognized as a gateway to the Midwest and symbolizes the
westward movement inspired by President Jefferson’s Louisiana
Purchase.
The
630-foot arch is the nation’s tallest man-made monument and can be
reached by a tramway which carries visitors to the top for an
expansive view of the city and Mississippi River. The arch is the
centerpiece of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, which also
includes the Arch Odyssey Theater, which shows two feature films on
its four-story-high Imax screen. I think it’s time for my next
visit.
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[to top of second
column in this section]
|
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The Missouri Botanical Garden
One
of my favorite places to visit in St. Louis, the garden is located
at 4344 Shaw Blvd. Because there are so many distinct garden areas
to explore, which change throughout the growing season, it’s a
good idea to visit the garden several times during the spring,
summer and fall seasons, because there is always something new to
see.
The
79-acre garden features the largest traditional Japanese garden in
North America, which is a favorite among visitors not only for of
its beauty and serene, perfectly manicured landscaping, but also to
watch and feed the fish in the huge koi ponds, which are interesting
if not unsettling — the way the koi graze the surface of the water
for food with their large, gaping mouths.
The
garden also features the Kemper Center for Home Gardening, a
Climatron rain forest, a Chinese garden, herb garden and a formal
rose garden enclosed by white fences covered in climbing roses. The
home gardening center is comprised of more than eight acres, and its
23 demonstration gardens are an inspiration to any home gardener.
Among the display gardens are a city garden, secret garden, backyard
garden, terrace garden, children’s garden, bird garden, vegetable
garden, Missouri native shade garden, fruit garden, fragrance garden
and butterfly pavilion.
A
stroll or guided tram tour through the garden is a wonderful way to
spend an afternoon. It’s also a peaceful place to eat a light
lunch at the cafe’s outdoor terrace, near the garden’s entrance
and next to the rose garden.
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Shaw Arboretum
The
arboretum is an extension of the botanical garden and includes 2,500
acres of natural Ozark landscape and managed plant collections.
Located 35 miles southwest of the city in Gray Summit, Mo., it was
founded in 1925 when coal smoke from the city threatened the living
plant collections housed at the botanical garden.
The
arboretum provides workshops and natural awareness walks for adults
and children and serves as an outdoor laboratory for developing
interpretive programs. Recently, the arboretum has become a focus of
fire ecology and habitat restoration.
Visitors
can walk through the Pinetum, a 55-acre expanse of meadow studded
with plantings of conifers from around the world; the Whitmire
wildflower garden, a five-acre concentration of native wildflowers;
or an ecological reserve with 13 miles of hiking trails through a
full array of Ozark border landscapes, including a floodplain
forest, oak-hickory woods, glades, bluffs, tall-grass prairie and
marsh wetlands.
(To
be continued)
[Penny
Zimmerman-Wills]
[click
here for Part 2]
|
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Take
your pick of fall festivals
[SEPT.
27, 2000]
The
festivals of fall continue, with New Holland's anniversary
celebration this weekend and the Barry Apple Festival. There are
many more to come in this area, including scenic drives where
thousands of visitors are expected
|
Sept.
28-30
New Holland Quasquicentennial
New
Holland
Parade,
entertainment, carnival, antique machinery/autos, combined church
service on
Oct. 1.
217/732-8687
Barry Apple Festival
Apple
Basket Farms. (Exit 20, off I-72), Barry
Town
square
Celebrate
the apple, as thousands of people do each year at this event. Enjoy
the fall fruit, made into cider, dumpling, fritters, pie and a host
of other treats. An apple-theme quilt will be raffled, and
activities include a parade, entertainment and queen contest.
217/335-2108
Oct.
6-7
Tuscola Old-fashioned Harvest
Bluegrass Festival
Downtown
Tuscola
The
third annual event offers a real treat for music fans, with a
line-up of bands and jam sessions, plus arts and crafts, food,
pie-eating and cutest pumpkin "baby" contests.
www.tuscola.org
800/441/9111
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Oct.
6-8
Pumpkinfest
Decatur
Civic Center, Decatur
Events
for kids and adults, food, live entertainment, pumpkin-decorating
contest and craft show.
217/422-7300
Oct.
7-8
Lincoln Memorial Gardens Indian Summer
Festival
Lincoln
Memorial Gardens, Springfield
Enjoy
the autumn air and beautiful surroundings, while sampling food and
listening to live entertainment. Crafts and children’s activities
are also on the schedule.
Farmer Dave’s Buffalo Fest and
Powwow
Farmer
City
An
intertribal powwow where you can test your tomahawk throwing skills,
eat some fry bread and pick your own pumpkin. Also featured are
Native American dance, arts and crafts, an appearance by
"Cody" from the movie "Dances with Wolves,"
stories about the white buffalo, a corn maze test your skills, pony
rides and petting zoo.
![](../images/Sep_2000_pics/092700pics/harvest7.jpg)
Oct.
7-8/14-15
Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive
Fulton
County’s 33rd annual fall festival is along more than 130 scenic
miles, through the towns of London Mills, Avon, Middle Grove,
Farmington, Bernadotte, Table Grove.
More
than 100,000 people are expected to pack the traditional event, so
be prepared for lots of traffic. Flea markets, entertainment,
historical sites, good food and beautiful fall leaves are all part
of the fun. Watch apple butter made, eat butterfly pork chops at
Mount Pisgah or a plate of chicken and noodles at Smithfield’s Red
Brick School. Re-enactors encamped on the grounds at Dickson Mounds
Museum will recreate the life of colonial Illinois in habit, cooking
and eating, blanket trading, and demonstrations of black powder
shooting and knife throwing.
www.spoonriverdrive.org
www.misslink.net/scenicdrive
309/647-8980
[to top of second
column in this section]
|
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Oct.
14
Pekin YWCA Fall Festival
315
Buena Vista, Pekin, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Get
both your face and your pumpkin painted at this event, which
includes the Wildlife Prairie Park traveling zoo, a bungee run, a
bake sale, magician, puppet shows and plenty of food. Admission is
$1.
309/347-YWCA
Oct.
14-15
Broom Orchard 10th Annual Pumpkin
Festival
Carlinville
Pick-your-own
pumpkin patch, arts and crafts, pony rides and entertainment.
217/854-3514
Pumpkin Festival
Apple
Blossom Farm, Rt. 91, Peoria
Pick
your own pumpkins, take a hayrack ride, enjoy live music, play
pumpkin games and eat pumpkin treats.
309/ 243-1012
Oct.
21
Auburn Harvest Festival
Town
square
Native
American Living History, hot air balloon rides, chili cook-off, flea
market, craft fair, old time music, Halloween window-painting
contest, car cruise.
217/438-3405
![](../images/Sep_2000_pics/092700pics/harvest29.jpg)
Applefest
Central
Park Plaza, Jacksonville
Come
and see who wins the apple pie bake-off, and enjoy the crafts,
entertainment and food available.
217/245-9917
Oct.
21-22
112th annual Pike County Drive
Pet
Clydesdale horses, walk through three-acre corn mazes, take a
horse-drawn wagon ride, have your own broom made while you wait or
tour the 100-year-old Pike County Courthouse at this event. Hundreds
of crafts and antiques are for sale at booths throughout the drive
and demonstrations include doll making, basket weaving, chair
caning, stained glass and rope making. More than 25,000 visitors
attended the popular event last year.
217/335-2670
Nov.
4-5
New Salem Harvest Feast
Lincoln’s
New Salem Historic Site, Petersburg
Take
a step back in time and watch villagers prepare for Thanksgiving, by
making apple butter and shucking corn. Parade and demonstrations.
217/632-4000
[Penny
Zimmerman-Wills]
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