[gary]

...anyone have any suggestions for things to do? Mostly along the lines of audio equipment stores, places to buy vinyl, or restaurants (restaurants especially because I'm travelling for work and can eat pretty much anywhere).

Thanks
Gary

[Scott F.]

...anyone have any suggestions for things to do? Mostly along the lines of audio equipment stores, places to buy vinyl, or restaurants (restaurants especially because I'm travelling for work and can eat pretty much anywhere).

Thanks
Gary

Hiya Gary,

Well, lets see. When it comes to audio there are really just two high end retail shops left here in town.

One is Tim's (electricbear) place called Best Sound. It' sin the county on Lindberg Blvd. He carries Audio Research, B&W, Rotel, Adcom, Martin Logan plus a few other brands that slip my mind. Nice shop with great people.

The other is Music For Pleasure. They carry Krell, Dynaudio, Meridian, Linn, Naim and Acoustic Energy plus a few other brands. Rumor has it they recently picked up a tube line. they do have a very cool shop. lots of two channel rooms done in a modern decorating style.

Vinyl.... there's two excellent shops here in town. Euclid Records is the biggest and best. you pay a little more (avg LP runs $8-$10) but you don't ever have to worry about condition. The second would be Vintage Vinyl. It's in a very cool part of town we refer to as The Loop. The Loop sits in midtown right next to a major university (Washington University). the strip is filled with great places to eat, small night clubs and TONs of people all hours of the day or night. On the loop I'd suggest BlueBerry Hill. Get a burger, beer and basket of fries. Joe has boatloads of memorabilia hung on the walls, in cases, pretty much everywhere. BBH isn't so much about the food as it is the cool surroundings and people watching.

Food.... well a stop in St Louis means you have to eat down on The Hill. The Hill is our Italian community. Utterly fantastic food (mostly) reasonably priced. Let me suggest Giantoni's. It's a little small and not quite as modern as some of the bigger restaurants but the food is phenominal and very reasonable. If they are filled with people, nearly anywhere on the Hill will get you some of the finest Italian you'll ever have (literally) anywhere.

Where-abouts are you staying and for how long? I may be able ot get a little more specific with places and addresses. One thing we do well here in St Louis is food.

Oh, while you're here you have to try some of our local specialties like Toasted Ravioli, Cheese Garlic Bread and last but not least Ted Drews for some Frozen Custard.

[gary]

Thanks for the response Scott... I'll definitely be eating at Giantoni's. And I'm staying at the Sheraton Westport Chalet, but I'll have a rental so I won't be stuck there. Last time I was, never left the complex for 3 days and I'll make sure that doesn't happen again. Oh, and actually I did have some fried ravioli, at a place at Westport called the Train Wreck. Pretty good stuff.

Gary

[steve k]

Hi Gary,
I'll second all of Scott's comments. You could spend a couple weeks eating on the Hill at a different place each day. There's also another great used vinyl shop--The Record Exchange in South St. Louis on Hampton and Eichelberger. It's in an old public library building and it's stacked to the rafters with vinyl. Probabbly the only place in town with a huge selection of used classical vinyl and the jazz section ain't shabby either. Vintage Vinyl's vinyl selection is pretty small these days--they've gone mostly CD.
CD.
Have fun.
steve k

[pjchappy]

Hey, a great place to just go out is Soulard. . .just about 1 mile south of downtown.  Home to a HUGE Mardi Gras party. . .

Hey, that's where I live. . .

p

[electricbear]

come by the store if you get a chance and introduce yourself. If you like Indian food try the India Palace , it's about 5 miles north of where you'll be staying. Best currys in St Louis apart from mine.

[Scott F.]

Hi Gary,

Thought I'd give you a few quick links (and addresses) to check out

Best Sound
227 North Lindbergh Boulevard, Saint Louis, MO 63141 (314) 997-7644

Music For Pleasure
7475 Big Bend Blvd. St. Louis, Missouri 63119 Phone: 314-961-5747
http://www.musicforpleasure.com/index.html

U City Loop
http://www.ucityloop.com/

Vintage Vinyl on the Loop
http://www.vintagevinyl.com/

Euclid Records
601 East Lockwood  St. Louis, Missouri 63119
http://www.euclidrecords.com/

Heres the restaurants down on The Hill from St Louis Fine Restaurant Guide
http://www.diningstl.com/TheHill.htm

Heres an interesting alternative look at St Louis from The Lowlife Guide to St Louis.
http://www.garagepunk.com/lowlifeguide/index.html

Another interesting view from our local 'underground' paper The Riverfront Times
http://www.riverfronttimes.com/

-----------------------------
EDIT
Heres a couple of more links on the Soulard area whre pjchappy lives. Of course, it's another great area to visit.

A little history on Soulard
http://www.slfp.com/Soulard.htm

Soulard Mardi Gras (proclaimed the second largest Mardi Gras celebration in the US)
http://www.mardigrasinc.com/
------------------------------

Enjoy!

[gary]

Thanks for all the posts guys, certainly gives me lots of ideas for what to do in my spare time next week.

Gary

p.s. Anybody in town happen to have Cain & Cain Abby's that they wouldn't mind letting me hear? I'm really anxious to get the chance to hear them and there isn't a dealer anywhere near me.

[Blackmore]

Hi Gary:

I have a pair of Abby normals. I live about 40 minutes west of St. Louis.  We could drive them with EL-34, 2A3 or a Sophia Electric Baby. Also have a pair of Innersound Eros (original version) if you want to hear some stats, too.  I'm a high school band director, so I'll be free on every night next week.  Let me know if you want to make the trek.

[gary]

Blackmore-

Thanks... sending you a PM right now.

Gary

[lonewolfny42]

Just wondering....Gary did you get to St. Louis ??? Thanks !!

[gary]

Yeah, I made it out to St. Louis... but it wasn't much of a week. The training class I was taking was shortened from 5 days to 4, so instead of getting out at 5 they kept us until 6 to make up the lost time. And 6 turned into 7 basically every day, after that it was raining so hard I really never let the hotel complex until the day I flew back. Pretty much a wasted week.

Anyway, I'll be back in St. Louis the first week of March so hopefully I'll have more time to get out and see the city. And hopefully there won't be pouring rain every day.

Gary