Going to New York and St. Louis in May.

[Ilmater]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
Good stuff, thanks. We may have my little cousin with me for a day or so, so Six Flags might be a good idea. :thumbsup:

KT

I would seriously recommend a day of the City Museum and the Arch together for a kid... it's more in the city, and cheaper. And if you and the kid like animals, then visit Grant's Farm or the Zoo on nice days.

If you do go to Six Flags, make sure to bring Coke cans or something... you get a discount on tickets at the gate. You'll have to look for the details, I haven't been in years.

 

[Ilmater]

Originally posted by: Lamont Burns
b/c the BBQ folk in the park carry video cameras and love to harass/yell at you while you wait in traffic.

What are you talking about? I've been to the zoo dozens of times and nobody has ever harassed me or anyone near us.

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: vi edit
STL - stay on the WEST side of the river.

Dang, beat me to it

As for stuff to do:
[*]tour the breweries: 1 working (Anheiser-Busch), 1 haunted (Lemp)
[*]catch a Cardinals ballgame
[*]catch a Blues hockey game
[*]visit the Arch
[*]visit the Zoo (it's free!)
[*]Catch a concert at Pop's, the Pageant, Saavis center, or the UMB pavillion
[*]Check out REI, Bass Pro Shops, and / or Cabela's, if you're the outdoors type.
[*]Six Flags
[*]the Science Center
[*]the Magic House
[*] St. Louis Art Museum (and Art Hill when it's snowing )
[*]Missouri Botanical Garden
[*]Powder Valley Nature Center (again, if you're the outdoors type; it's run by the Missouri Department of Conservation)
[*]catch a race (stock-car or drag) at Gateway International Raceway


There's probably a few more; if I think of any I'll add them.

EDIT: dang, looks like I might be too late. Oh well.

Nathan

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: Ilmater

Originally posted by: Lamont Burns
b/c the BBQ folk in the park carry video cameras and love to harass/yell at you while you wait in traffic.

What are you talking about? I've been to the zoo dozens of times and nobody has ever harassed me or anyone near us.

Same here. Worst problem I ever had was a bear that kept sticking his @ss in the camera lens whenever I tried to take a picture

One thing I will warn you about with the St. Louis Zoo, though. Nothing bad; maybe just surprising if you're not familiar with the place: They do sometimes let some of their birds - those that don't fly much - have essentially 'free reign'. They're welcome to go where ever they want. So don't be suprised if you see a few peacocks, chickens, ducks, or similar critters just out wandering around.

This group also includes at least one (or at least did; don't know if it still does) very large white & black turkey that has almost no fear of humans. On the one hand, if you walk up to take a closer look, he won't bolt; on the other, if he's in your way, he doesn't really care and won't be in any hurry to get out of it either Might freak your cousin out to see a bird that big that close too, if he's a little squirt.

Nathan

 

[eits]

check out the pageant's line up for the dates you'll be in town. they might have a sweet show you can get tickets for.

if you want, we can meet up and grab some lunch or something.

also, if you like root beer, go to fitz's... it's a root beer microbrewery/restaurant jam on the loop. i hear it's amazing because it's fresher than fresh, but i'm not into root beer.

city museum is awesome. it's not just for kids... it's just a huge jungle gym. it's awesome.

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus
If you have kids you almost have to go to the city museum in Saint Louis. It's probably the coolest place on the entire planet - some crazy artist bought a warehouse and turned it basically into a giant 3d maze using recycled objects (such as the odd learjet or two). I love going to it with friends and running around and I'm 22. As a kid it was completely awesome. http://www.citymuseum.org/

No kids, unless my little cousin is tagging along. If he is I will definitely keep this place in mind, thanks!

KT

If he does come along: Six Flags is good, the Science center has already been mentioned and is another good one, and you may also want to check out the Magic House - sort of a Science Center for younger kids. At least, it used to be. It's been a long time since I've been there.

Nathan

 

[Muadib]

Since you like museums, the museum of natural history in NYC, is a must see. The Hayden Planetarium is also very cool, and is right in the museum.

The Federal Reserve is pretty interesting. It's worth it just to see the gold vault. You need to make reservations now though.

NYC is the place to go for galleries. Chelsea has about 300 alone. Setup a tour here.

Get ready for the movie, and go on a Sex and the City tour.

 

[CycloWizard]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
So it sounds as if there is about a 1 mile radius where I am ok to go. :laugh:

KT

Really, St. Louis is a big place, but St. Louis city is fairly small. It's a strange poltiical division, but Clayton, University City, Brentwood, and 305873257 other suburbs are part of the city as a whole. If you walk 2 blocks from my house, you're in University City, though you'd never know that you had crossed the edge of St. Louis City. So I suppose if you don't want to get robbed, just stay out of St. Louis City and stick to St. Louis County (which is everything else).

 

[dmcowen674]

You mentioned Empire State Building:

It's $19 per person just for the Observation Deck.

Go during the week Wed or Thursday around 3pm otherwise expect to waste a lot of time in lines.

 

[BHeemsoth]

Yankees games aren't impossible, even this year.

There are still about 500,000 tickets available for the year, and tickets to most weekday games can be had on ebay for face/close to face value.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: Ilmater
*snip*

Awesome post, thanks so much! I am still trying to figure out exactly how much free time we are going to have in St. Louis, but all of those recs will certainly help no matter what.

As for restaurants, we will probably need at least one to hit, but is there a local specialty in St. Louis? I've been to KC before and I know they are all about the BBQ, so I was just wondering if that holds true in STL as well.

That story about your friend is hilarious. :laugh:

Originally posted by: NTB
*snip*
catch a race (stock-car or drag) at Gateway International Raceway

That sounds cool, is it easy to get tickets and are races held in May?

Originally posted by: eits
check out the pageant's line up for the dates you'll be in town. they might have a sweet show you can get tickets for.

if you want, we can meet up and grab some lunch or something.

also, if you like root beer, go to fitz's... it's a root beer microbrewery/restaurant jam on the loop. i hear it's amazing because it's fresher than fresh, but i'm not into root beer.

city museum is awesome. it's not just for kids... it's just a huge jungle gym. it's awesome.

Sweet, thanks! I'm still unsure as to how much free time I'll have in STL, though I know we will have at least 2 days to wander around, but what we will be doing depends on whether we are going to be "babysitting" or not.

KT

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: Muadib
Since you like museums, the museum of natural history in NYC, is a must see. The Hayden Planetarium is also very cool, and is right in the museum.

The Federal Reserve is pretty interesting. It's worth it just to see the gold vault. You need to make reservations now though.

NYC is the place to go for galleries. Chelsea has about 300 alone. Setup a tour here.

Get ready for the movie, and go on a Sex and the City tour.

That Museum looks great!

I forgot about the reserve, that sounds cool. We are both in finance, so we will definitely be hitting Wall Street and the Reserve would be a nice addition to that.

I'm not going to tell my Mom about the Sex & the City tour because she'd make me go for sure, now if there was a Seinfeld tour maybe...

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
You mentioned Empire State Building:

It's $19 per person just for the Observation Deck.

Go during the week Wed or Thursday around 3pm otherwise expect to waste a lot of time in lines.

Yowzer. We may just skip actually going up there, but I guess it depends on how much free time we have. Thanks!

Originally posted by: BHeemsoth
Yankees games aren't impossible, even this year.

There are still about 500,000 tickets available for the year, and tickets to most weekday games can be had on ebay for face/close to face value.

Awesome, thanks. I'm going to get on this right now to see if I can get something. I can't imagine a Baltimore game in the middle of the week will be sold out.

KT

 

[Vonkhan]

NYC - 5 nights here

1. Best museums/galleries to hit
Met, MoMA, Gugenheim (Mu. of Nat. History for teh kids)

2. Tourist sites actually worth visiting.
Rockefeller Center (Top of the Rock) is better & cheaper than Empire State
Times Sq - stop by for lunch at Ruby Foo's
SoHo if you have a gf/wife

3. Great, cheap food joints.
Shake Shack (Madison Sq. Park)
O Taisho (St. Mark's Pl.)
Pop burger

4. Any other event type things?
Museum of Sex (Madison Sq. Park)
Union Sq to chill
5th Ave for upscale

5. Anything else I need to know?
Don't "ask a local"

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: Vonkhan
NYC - 5 nights here

1. Best museums/galleries to hit
Met, MoMA, Gugenheim (Mu. of Nat. History for teh kids)

2. Tourist sites actually worth visiting.
Rockefeller Center (Top of the Rock) is better & cheaper than Empire State
Times Sq - stop by for lunch at Ruby Foo's
SoHo if you have a gf/wife

3. Great, cheap food joints.
Shake Shack (Madison Sq. Park)
O Taisho (St. Mark's Pl.)
Pop burger

4. Any other event type things?
Museum of Sex (Madison Sq. Park)
Union Sq to chill
5th Ave for upscale

5. Anything else I need to know?
Don't "ask a local"

Thanks! I think I'll skip the Museum of Sex, since I am going to be with my Mom. :laugh:

Top of the Rock looks good and the food joint recommendations are always welcome.

What does "Don't "ask a local"" mean exactly? Are people unfriendly?

KT

 

[KeithTalent]

Has anyone here used StubHub.com to buy tickets to a game before? They have tickets for the Mets/Yankees game on the 18th that looked to priced ok. Does it matter where you sit in Yankee Stadium, i.e. can you see relatively well from anywhere?

KT

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: CycloWizard
Coming to St. Louis... Don't want to get mugged... Yeah. Don't come to St. Louis. If you have to, stay south of the Loop (Delmar) and west of Skinker (or, if you want to get a little more ballsy, Kingshighway). North St. Louis is worse than East St. Louis.

So it sounds as if there is about a 1 mile radius where I am ok to go. :laugh:

KT

CycloWizard, you must have really had a bad time in St. Louis; I'm not sure what part of the metro area you saw while you were here, but outside north city and East Saint Louis (a whole separate city) crime's really negligible. It's like saying you're very likely to get mugged on any corner in LA - there's a huge difference between areas - same thing here. I've lived here since '91 and been a victim of crime exactly once - my car was broken into at a movie theater.

edit: I just read your house comments - are you at Wash. U?

KT, the opposite's actually the case. Cyclo's right about there being better and worse sections of the city - just like every mature city has. The thing is - nothing you've been pointed to is in those areas.

St. Louis City covers about 1/5 or 1/4 of St. Louis County, and East St. Louis isn't part of either one - somewhat confusing. The northernmost 1/3 or so of St. Louis City isn't good, and the University City Loop he mentions is right on the border - but there are also $million+ mansions in University City, named for Washington University, which it borders.

Long story short, I'd estimate 90% of the violent crime attributed to the generic "St. Louis" either comes from East St. Louis or the dangerous 10% of St. Louis City.

Originally posted by: Lamont Burns
Basically anything that says go West is good, and South is decent. Anything associated with East or North is ALERT ALERT DANGER WILL ROBINSON DO NOT PROCEED.

Even going to the Zoo in Forest Park(compromise of East/West) can be an event in the summer. Prepare to put your windows up and lock your doors until you park and get in the zoo, b/c the BBQ folk in the park carry video cameras and love to harass/yell at you while you wait in traffic.

Again, having been to Forest Park hundreds of times and the Zoo dozens, I'm not sure where this is coming from. I don't hesitate to bring my kids - my daughter loves feeding the ducks at the boat house.

Also, on the City Museum, it's very fun, especially with kids. Certainly unique - I've never seen anything else like it.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: rivan
**snip**

Thanks for the clarification rivan. It's not like I'm a scaredy cat or anything, but being aware of one's surroundings is never a bad thing so I appreciate the comments.

KT

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: rivan
**snip**

Thanks for the clarification rivan. It's not like I'm a scaredy cat or anything, but being aware of one's surroundings is never a bad thing so I appreciate the comments.

KT

True. I just didn't want you to come away with the idea that St. Louis is the crime capital of the world; it'd be like judging all of LA on the crime rates of South Central.

From Wikipedia, on St. Louis County (the bulk of the population for the metro area):

Crime and safety

When compared to other large urban counties, St. Louis County?s crime rate per 100,000 residents is among the lowest in the nation. For example, there were just 30 homicides reported in 2003 out of a population of over 1 million people. There has been a 25% decrease in crime since 1991, and St. Louis County is now at its lowest level of crime since 1973.

And in stark contrast, on St. Louis City:

Crime and social issues

Main article: Crime and social issues of St. Louis, Missouri

The City of St. Louis has one of the highest per-capita crime rates in the United States and has ranked among the nation's top ten in crime for years. According to FBI statistics, the city ranked third in 2005 in the country's highest murder rates for cities above 250,000.[26] According to Morgan Quitno's "14th Annual America's safest/most dangerous cities" report, St. Louis dropped from the number one "Most Dangerous" city in America in 2006 back to the number two most dangerous city in America in 2007.<snip>[28]

And again - it doesn't clarify, but I'd be willing to say that 70% or more of the total crime (and a much higher percentage of the violent crime) happens probably 1/4 to 1/5 of the total City.

 

[hoihtah]

as long as you don't do what bruce willis did and use your common sense, you'll be fine. enjoy

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: eits
check out the pageant's line up for the dates you'll be in town. they might have a sweet show you can get tickets for.

if you want, we can meet up and grab some lunch or something.

also, if you like root beer, go to fitz's... it's a root beer microbrewery/restaurant jam on the loop. i hear it's amazing because it's fresher than fresh, but i'm not into root beer.

city museum is awesome. it's not just for kids... it's just a huge jungle gym. it's awesome.

Sweet, thanks! I'm still unsure as to how much free time I'll have in STL, though I know we will have at least 2 days to wander around, but what we will be doing depends on whether we are going to be "babysitting" or not.

KT

http://www.citymuseum.org/povgallery1.html check out as many pictures as you can... the name of the place is misleading. it's not really a museum whatsoever.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: rivan
**snip**

Thanks rivan, I've forwarded some of this information on to my Mom and she is much more at ease. She was theatening to just hole up in the hotel for a few days when I showed her the original crime stats given here.

Originally posted by: eits

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: eits
check out the pageant's line up for the dates you'll be in town. they might have a sweet show you can get tickets for.

if you want, we can meet up and grab some lunch or something.

also, if you like root beer, go to fitz's... it's a root beer microbrewery/restaurant jam on the loop. i hear it's amazing because it's fresher than fresh, but i'm not into root beer.

city museum is awesome. it's not just for kids... it's just a huge jungle gym. it's awesome.

Sweet, thanks! I'm still unsure as to how much free time I'll have in STL, though I know we will have at least 2 days to wander around, but what we will be doing depends on whether we are going to be "babysitting" or not.

KT

http://www.citymuseum.org/povgallery1.html check out as many pictures as you can... the name of the place is misleading. it's not really a museum whatsoever.

Damn, that place looks pretty freaking cool, thanks eits! :thumbsup:

KT

 

[DT4K]

I've only been to NYC once, but I thought that all of these were very worthwhile:

The Met - we could have spent an entire day here. It was really amazing to see all of these paintings and artifacts dating back thousands of years.

Museum of Natural History - We didn't have any kids with us, but this was also the kind of place that we could have spent all day.

Staten Island Ferry - This is free and gives you a great view of the Statue of Liberty. We only had 3 days in the city and I had heard that the lines to go to Liberty Island were very long, so we opted for the ferry instead.

Top of the Rock - Again, we heard that lines were long for the Empire State Building, so we opted to do the Rockefeller building instead. From up there, you can see the whole city, including great views of Central Park. From the observation deck, you can see the people over at the Empire State Building and I don't think their view could have been any better.

I didn't think I was a big fan of musicals, but seeing a broadway show is really an experience unlike any other. We had planned to go to two shows, but we enjoyed them so much that we ended up getting last minute tickets for another. We saw Mamma Mia, Curtains, and Chicago. Chicago was ok, but a little boring. Curtains was great and Mama Mia was so much fun. Like I said, I've never been a big "musical" guy and I'm not even close to being a metro, but Mamma Mia was fantastic.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: DT4K
I've only been to NYC once, but I thought that all of these were very worthwhile:

The Met - we could have spent an entire day here. It was really amazing to see all of these paintings and artifacts dating back thousands of years.

Museum of Natural History - We didn't have any kids with us, but this was also the kind of place that we could have spent all day.

Staten Island Ferry - This is free and gives you a great view of the Statue of Liberty. We only had 3 days in the city and I had heard that the lines to go to Liberty Island were very long, so we opted for the ferry instead.

Top of the Rock - Again, we heard that lines were long for the Empire State Building, so we opted to do the Rockefeller building instead. From up there, you can see the whole city, including great views of Central Park. From the observation deck, you can see the people over at the Empire State Building and I don't think their view could have been any better.

I didn't think I was a big fan of musicals, but seeing a broadway show is really an experience unlike any other. We had planned to go to two shows, but we enjoyed them so much that we ended up getting last minute tickets for another. We saw Mamma Mia, Curtains, and Chicago. Chicago was ok, but a little boring. Curtains was great and Mama Mia was so much fun. Like I said, I've never been a big "musical" guy and I'm not even close to being a metro, but Mamma Mia was fantastic.

This is great, thanks. It's good to have the tourist's perspective as well as the locals; much appreciated!

KT

 

[Muadib]

I'm not going to tell my Mom about the Sex & the City tour because she'd make me go for sure, now if there was a Seinfeld tour maybe...

There is a Seinfeld tour, but I've never done it. It's ran by the real Kramer though, so I'd think it should be good.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: Muadib

I'm not going to tell my Mom about the Sex & the City tour because she'd make me go for sure, now if there was a Seinfeld tour maybe...

There is a Seinfeld tour, but I've never done it. It's ran by the real Kramer though, so I'd think it should be good.

That's freaking hilarious, thanks man!

KT