Forest Park St Louis

Forest Park St Louis is a great place to spend a day just walking around and exploring. It is at least 2 mile long by 1 mile wide.
On my rounds I came across a museum, a Zoo, A boat house with a good restaurant, a visitors centre with a cafe, a golf course, a opera house, a tennis centre, a art gallery plus plenty of scenic views.
Just a great place with something for everyone.

Vacation Top Five Lists

I've come up with these lists from my vacation during the last two weeks :-

Biggest Plonkers -

1st - The idiot with the 21st birthday group that tried to pick a fight with me and two friends I had made in "Beale on Broadway" in St Louis. He accused one of the chaps I was with of staring at his girlfriend when they actually were stood directly in front of the Blues Singer we were trying to watch.

2nd - Despite me wearing an England shirt and having an Yorkshire accent a fool on the Chicago Tribune stall at the Taste promised to deliver their paper on 3 occasions for 50cents, it was only when he started to fill the form in with my address he realised the error of his ways.

3rd - Big Headed St Louis Cardinals Supporter in packed Hotel Bar following match demanding he be served first calling the barman "a Mexican son of a bitch". No prizes for guessing who got served last everytime he went to the bar.

4th - The loony on the Abbey Pub stall at the Taste of Chicago whom I asked what type of fish they were serving (I like cod but not catfish). He insisted it was neither of those it was called "Battered".

5th - Got to go to United Airlines for letting me stand by a carosel for over an hour at St Louis airport waiting for my luggage. Apparently they had sent it on an earlier flight and had it in their office.


Best Service Staff :-

1st - I'll go for Teresa & Phil in Fado Pub in Chicago she is so cute and I love her sexy Irish accent and he is just a solid lad. They both always makes me feel welcome on my visits to the City.

2nd - Barmaids Michelle and friend (I can't remember her name) in "Beale on Broadway" in St Louis, really friendly and loved the way they told some arrogant Cardinals supporters who wanted the Television on to "F**k off this is a music bar not a sports bar".

3rd - Servers in "Show Me" on Lacledes Landing, St louis all with large breasts, tight shorts and skimpy vests (great uniform) and they insist on leaning forward when asking what I wanted and not leaving much to my imagination. It took me ages to choose as I couldn't concentrate.

4th - Room staff at "Palmer House Hilton, Chicago " just so friendly and polite.

5th - Hungarian waitress in Bewleys Hotel Mancheser Airport, so keen to help and a great smile. (see 2nd on next list)


Worst Service Staff :-

1st - Miserable dark haired bitch working behind bar in Kingston Mines Club, Chicago. It seemed an effort for her to pull a beer (the other girl was ok).

2nd - Some of the other staff a Bewleys Hotel Manchester Airport, so full of their own importance.

3rd - Bar Man in "The Big Bang" dueling piano bar on lacledes landing (grumpy b*****d).

4th - Bar maid in bar on Lacledes Landing, can't remember bar name but it advertises a New Orleans type atmosphere. She couldn't even be bothered to take her coat off and was more interested in eating a pizza than serving.

5th - Girl serving at Blue Chicago she just didn't know how to smile (I think she was a temporary from elsewhere).

Best things visited :-

1st - Taste of Chicago (more than once).

2nd - Forest Park St Louis, Great Place to spend the day, report and photos to follow.

3rd - Gateway Arch, St Louis, Impressive structure.

4th - Navy Pier, Chicago, I always love this place.

5th - Union Station, St Louis nice shopping centre.

To be fair to Chicago I didn't visit too many tourist attractions on this visit as I have seen them before. Some would be on this list it is an awesome city.

Things I should have done on this vacation but didn't :-

1st - Hired a bike for the day in Chicago and gone north along the lake path.

2nd - Visited the Soulard District in St Louis, apparently the nightlife is supposed to be good in this area. A bit tight here, couldn't get there on public transport and wouldn't pay for a taxi.

3rd - Visited the Green Mill Jazz Club in Chicago, I did intend to but other things cropped up and plans changed.

4th - Took in a baseball match, in all my visits to the states I still have not been to one and I had chance of a ticket for the Cardinals.

5th - Watched England win the world cup, apparently there was something wrong with the televisions in St Louis and they lost to Portugal on Penalties.

People I met that I knew previously :-

1st - Graham, works at same place as me plays Pool on a Monday with me and he arrived in Chicago the Thursday before I left. He is there because his Girlfriend is working and living in the City. We had pre-arranged our meeting and visited the Taste.

2nd - Regina, Blogging friend agreed to perform some of her songs while I was in the City. I wouldn't have missed that for anything, thanks Regina it was good.

3rd - Jeff, manager/owner of Andy's Jazz Club always welcomes me, the free entry I get when he is there is nice of him.

4th - Got to mention the cute Teresa in Fado's again.

5th - Sorry thats it.

St Louis Photo's

I've only been back home a couple of hours but here is some photo's from my holiday (a few stories to follow).

The Gateway arch dominates the skyline and is an impressive sight.

Lacledes Landing is St Louis well known entertainment district.

Charles Lindburghs famous plane "Spirit of St Louis".

Entertainment by the mighty Mississippi river.

Busch Stadium home of the St Louis Cardinals.

Well you have got to relax sometime and the Hotel Swimming Pool was a good spot.

St Louis historical Union Station is now a shopping complex with bars and restaurants and well worth a visit.

I think this was the town hall ?

I have missed photo's of Forest Park from this post as I will show then on another article as it is in the same league as Central Park New York and Lincoln Park Chicago, maybe not quite as big but well worth spending a day there.

Goodbye St Louis & World Cup

Last night for me in St Louis, I'll be moving on to Chicago in the morning. Tonight there is a free concert and firework display on the banks of the Mississippi so I'm going to check it out.

I won't be drinking too much beer tonight I had enough this morning watching England lose to Portugal. Same old story in this world cup a Manchester United player gets sent off for stupidity and we can't take f*****g penalties.

St Louis & Chicago

I am back to the States in eleven days time and have been making my plans what I want to see and do. I will be visiting St Louis for the first time then spending a week in my favorite US city Chicago :-

St Louis - Priority here is that if England are still in the world cup the last 8 match will happen while I am in this City on either Friday 30th June or Saturday 1st July. I have found a Pub that is showing the World Cup "The Dubliner" at 1025 Washington Ave so thats where I will watch.
Looking up information on the same Pub I see it has live Music so it may be worth a visit anyway.
The Dubliner
If there are any readers of my blog in St Louis they are welcome to join me for the England match.

I will be staying at the Millenium Hotel from Sunday 25th June leaving on Sunday 2nd July.
Millenium Hotel


Among Attractions that may be worth a visit are :-
City Museum
St Louis Zoo
Union Station
Gateway Arch

Plus many others.

I've had advice on the nightlife and two places not to miss are Broadway Oyster Bar which apparently has a real New Orleans type atmosphere. Looking down the menu I will have to try the Alligator as I've never had it (don't get many in England).
The other place is at Lacledes Landing as is called The Big Bang this is a dueling Piano bar and is very popular. I am sure I will find many other good fun places and hopfully meet some great people.

Chicago - Obviously I as this is my fifth visit to Chicago I am starting to know my way around a bit. I will be in the City from 2nd July checking out on the 10th I will be staying at The Palmer House Hilton . I have seen most of the tourist attractions so intend having a relaxing time. I'll do quite a bit of walking in the parks and an considering hiring a bike one day.

Ok while I'm there quite a bit is happening like the world Cup semi-finals Tuesday & Wednesday 4th & 5th July (2pm Chicago time). The final is also on while I am in the city on Sunday 9th (1pm kick off). I hope England are still in the competition for these matches but I will watch them anyway at Fado Irish Pub which is at the junction of Clark and Grand.

Again if any of my blog readers wish to join me for these matches they are always welcome.

Two Chicago nightspots I have yet to visit are Kingston Mines which is a well known blues club and The Green Mill a Jazz club in North Chicago with quite an history.
Other nightspots that I have enjoyed in the past are Blue Chicago (both venues) and Andy's Jazz Club

While I'm in town the Taste of Chicago festival is on in Grant Park so I will pay a few visits during the week. It was on during my first visit to the city and good fun.

And I nearly forgot that holiday the Americans have (Independance day), I don't know what it is about or Independance from who, but I think I will wear my Union Jack Tee Shirt that day.