| City Museum
701 N. 15th St.
St. Louis, MO 63103
314-231-2489
www.citymuseum.org
A delightful hodgepodge of aquarium, playground, circus school and much more all spread out in an old warehouse manages to charm adults, teens and children alike.
The Magic House
516 S. Kirkwood Rd.
Kirkwood, MO 63122
314-822-8900
www.magichouse.org
The magic here isn't supernatural, but rather scientific and literary. The original cozy home features exhibits for younger kids; a soaring new expansion explores forensic science, construction and government.
Missouri History Museum
5700 Lindell Blvd., Forest Park
St. Louis, MO 63112
314-746-4599
www.mohistory.org
From frontier days through the 1904 World's Fair and Charles Lindbergh's historic trans-Atlantic flight, this museum tells the story of Missouri's relationship with the world.
St. Louis Art Museum
1 Fine Arts Drive
Forest Park
St. Louis, MO 63110
314-721-0072
www.slam.org
Yes, there's Thomas Hart Benton and George Caleb Bingham, but there's also a strong collection of German Expressionist Max Beckmann, and the third part of the Claude Monet tryptich "Water Lillies".
BB's Jazz, Blues and Soups
700 S. Broadway
St. Louis, MO 63102
314-436-5222
www.bbsjazzbluessoups.com
This spacious two-story venue feels like a temple to the blues. No need to check the calendar — the music's always good.
Beale on Broadway
701 S. Broadway
St. Louis, MO 63102
3 14-621-7880
www.bealeonbroadway.com
A blues bar that's just scruffy enough to lend authenticity to the high-calibre musicians taking the stage.
Black Repertory Theater of St. Louis
The Grandel Theater
3610 Grandel Square
St. Louis, MO 63108
314-534-3810
www.theblackrep.org
An African-American theater company also known as the Black Rep, it operates in a converted church, offering a varied selection of works by black playwrights.
Fox Theater
527 N. Grand Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63103
314-534-1678
www.fabulousfox.com
This huge former movie palace is a glorious setting for Broadway road companies, usually musicals, and the occasional concert. The elaborate interior makes for interesting pre-curtain and intermission strolling.
Lumière Place Casino
999 N. 2nd St.
St. Louis, MO 63102
314-881-7777
www.lumiereplace.com
A gaming destination that houses several of downtown's trendiest restaurants and bars.
Mandarin
44 Maryland Plaza
St. Louis, MO 63108
314-367-4447
www.mandarinlounge.net
The young and well-dressed gather here to laugh, drink and dance away the evening.
Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Loretto-Hilton Center
130 Edgar Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63119
314-968-4925
www.repstl.com
Strong regional theater uses both local talent and actors from Chicago and New York to produce both large shows in the main theater, and small, more off-beat work in the studio on the lower level.
St. Louis Blues
Scottrade Center
1401 Clark St.
St. Louis, MO 63103
314-622-5400
blues.nhl.com
Despite its mild climate, St. Louis is a hard-core hockey town, and this NHL club draws dedicated fans regardless of the team's record.
St. Louis Cardinals
Busch Stadium
700 Clark St.
St. Louis, MO 63101
stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com
The much-loved baseball and its knowledgeable fans are a big reason St. Louis is known as one of the top sports cities in America.
St. Louis Rams
Edward Jones Dome
701 Convention Plaza (Washington Ave.)
St. Louis, MO 63101
314-425-8380
www.stlouisrams.com
Attached to the Convention Center, the Jones Dome is convenient to everything downtown. The erratic NFL team that plays there at least makes for excellent tailgating.
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Powell Hall
718 N. Grand Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63103
314-533-2500
www.slso.org
For more than a century, the SLSO has been one of the great St. Louis institutions; conductor David Robertson has brought new zest to the podium at Powell Hall.
Sub Zero Vodka Bar
308 N. Euclid Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63108
314-367-1200
www.subzerovodkabar.com
Sub Zero offers plenty of room to lounge and relax, with a wide range of potables.
Anheuser-Busch Brewery
12th & Lynch Sts.
St. Louis, MO 63118
314-577-2626
www.budweisertours.com
The first of all the A-B breweries, it's interesting to beer drinkers and history and architecture buffs. And there's a set of the famous Clydesdale horses.
Citygarden
Market Street between Eighth and Tenth
St. Louis, MO 63103
www.citygardenstl.org
This free public park, a two-block stretch of impressive outdoor sculpture and clever landscaping, defines the term "urban oasis."
Gateway Arch
Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63102
314-923-3048
www.gatewayarch.com
Even if you're wary of going up in the Arch, which is tricky for the claustrophobic, the Museum of Western Expansion below and the view from ground level are worthwhile. Keep an eye out for it at night, when it's floodlit.
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Anheuser-Busch Brewhouse Clock |
Grant's Farm
10501 Gravois Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63123
314-843-1700
www.grantsfarm.com
Named for its former owner, Ulysses S. Grant, and ancestral home to the Busch brewing family, the farm is home to animals both exotic and domestic, including the famous Clydesdales.
Missouri Botanical Garden
4344 Shaw Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63110
314-577-9400
www.mobot.org
The garden's research spans the globe, yet its glorious local campus is easy to navigate and very user-friendly. Families will love the Children's Garden (open April to October).
Old Courthouse
11 N. Fourth St.
St. Louis, MO 63102
314-655-1700
This lovely classical building near the base of the Gateway Arch, part of the National Park Service's National Underground Railroad Network To Freedom thanks to its role in hundreds of slaves' suits for freedom, is now the scene of seasonal displays and naturalization ceremonies.
Saint Louis Science Center
5050 Oakland Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110
314-289-4400
www.slsc.org
From spacecraft to dinosaurs, this museum's a must-see for scientifically minded kids, while the IMAX movies and lecture series earn kudos from adults.
Saint Louis Zoo
1 Government Dr., Forest Park
St. Louis, MO 63110
314-781-0900
www.stlzoo.org
It's practically impossible to see the zoo's comprehensive collection of animals in a single day, but it's great fun trying.
Union Station
1800 Market St.
St. Louis, MO 63103
314-421-6655
www.stlouisunionstation.com
No trains any more at Union Station, but the building, now a shopping mall and hotel, is enchanting.
Central West End
Euclid Avenue from Forest Park to Wash Avesnues
www.thecwe.com
A neighborhood of big old homes on private streets and, restaurants, bars and shops on the public ones.
Charm
605 N. 13th St.
St. Louis, MO 63103
314-588-8203
www.charm-boutique.com
By sourcing designers from Hollywood to New York to Alabama, this jewelry boutique finds the perfect balance of trendy and timeless.
Cherokee Street
Cherokee Street from Lemp to Jefferson Aves.
www.cherokeeantiquerow.net
The antique shops along this charming street specialize in wares from china to saxophones to vintage clothes and salvaged architectural gems.
City Sprouts
6534 Delmar Blvd.
University City, MO 63130
314-862-0609
www.citysprouts.com
Modern clothing and other kid-related stuff
can be found
at this little independent shop.
Delmar Loop
6000-6700 Delmar Blvd.
University City and St. Louis, MO
www.visittheloop.com
It's almost like a small-town Main Street, with restaurants, a restored 1924 movie theater, a root beer brewery, a bowling alley, and lots of interesting shops.
The Hill
The city's old Italian neighborhood is home to restaurants, sought-after single-family homes and some good Italian grocery stores.
Left Bank Books
399 N. Euclid Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63108
314-367-6731
www.left-bank.com
An independent bookstore in the Central West End (with a new location downtown at 321 N. Tenth St.), Left Bank sells used books as well as new,
while offering a discount on hard-cover books in stock and sponsors lots of author visits.
Plowsharing Crafts
6271 Delmar Blvd.
University City, MO 63130
314-863-3723
www.plowsharing.org
Home accessories, jewelry and clothing from various worldwide charities look good and make the buyer feel good.
NV Showroom Boutique
1909 Washington Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63103
314-932-5382
www.nvshowroomboutique.com
A colorful selection of one-of-a-kind items from independent designers just begs to be browsed.
Soulard Farmers Market
7th St. at Lafayette
St. Louis, MO 63104
314-622-4180
www.soulardmarket.com
St. Louisans have shopped this market since 1779, and everyone — from recent immigrants to noted chefs — peruses its stalls Wednesday through Saturday. Overhead signs point out local farmers.
Streetside Records
6134 Delmar Blvd.
University City, MO 63130
314-726-6277
A wide variety of music for most tastes, but primarily the young and intense.
Vintage Vinyl
6610 Delmar Blvd.
University City, MO 63130
314-721-4096
www.vintagevinyl.com
The musical equivalent of a used bookstore, Vintage Vinyl has all sorts of things you forgot you wanted to buy a decade or two ago.
Washington Avenue
Washington Avenue from Fourth to 16th Streets
www.downtownstl.org
A stroll along its brick sidewalks takes you past boutiques, trendy shops, ethnic eateries, bars, and even a bowling alley.
For more information about what to do in and or around the city, visit the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission at www.explorestlouis.com. |
