St. Loius Meetup?

September 30, 2008 10:53 AM

St. Louis MeFites: wanna help make my trip memorable? How about a meetup?

I'm traveling to St. Louis From Oct. 16 to the 21 for a wedding and plan to see the sites and eat/drink the local must-haves. Would any of you fine Metafilterers care to join me one of those nights? Only October 18 (the night of the wedding) is off-limits.

I am staying a few miles outside of town, but I'm renting a car, so I'm up for anything that you can suggest!

posted by sjuhawk31 to MetaFilter Gatherings at 10:53 AM (54 comments total)

The past couple travellers have enjoyed pizza and beer at The Black Thorn, with Ted Drew's frozen custard for dessert.

Shall we make this a tradition?
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 11:05 AM on September 30, 2008

I like pizza, I like beer, and Ted Drewes is on my list of places to go. I'm game. What's the best night for anyone interested?
posted by sjuhawk31 at 12:19 PM on September 30, 2008

I vote 16th.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 12:29 PM on September 30, 2008

16th is a thursday, always a good way to lead into the weekend.

What all are you planning to see/do, and what is "a few miles outside of town"? Ooutside the city limits is still very much inside the metro area.
posted by notsnot at 12:32 PM on September 30, 2008

I'm good for the 16th - flight lands at 10:30 a.m., so there'll be plenty of decompressing/prep time.

notsnot, I'm staying about 20 miles SW (more west) from the downtown area, which it has been explained to me is very much within reach of all the places to be since I'll have a car.

As for what I'm going to see/do, I'm definitely hitting up the Arch, the Anheuser-Busch brewery, Ted Drewes, some of the attractions within Forest Park, and Busch Stadium. I'd hit up the Blues as well, but the only home game while I'm there is the proposed night of this meetup, and my beloved Flyers aren't the opponent so it's hardly worth it.

Any other recommendations are heartily welcomed, especially if they save me from having to post an AskMe.
posted by sjuhawk31 at 12:54 PM on September 30, 2008

Given that this is October in St. Louis, I can only suggest any haunted house. I'm not sure what it is about this city, but they go mad for haunted houses here. It's a lot like Christmas, only orange and with a lot of involuntary loss of bladder control.
posted by adipocere at 1:06 PM on September 30, 2008

The Botanical Gardens and the City Museum are both neato. The City Museum is open late, and has has a bar in it (so it's not just for kids!)
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 1:16 PM on September 30, 2008

So I've heard...but back to the meetup for now...besides Greenie and Notsnot, who wants to hang out?
posted by sjuhawk31 at 1:20 PM on September 30, 2008

I'll run out the batsignal to all mefites that have marked their location to be in the area.
posted by notsnot at 1:40 PM on September 30, 2008

Now I'm going to insist on being called Greenie....
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 1:53 PM on September 30, 2008

(Black Thorne has fantastic pizza... but it's not St. Louis Style pizza, now is it? You really want to deprive the man of square-cut provel cheese on a cracker? The only earthly reason I can possibly think of to eat at Black Thorne instead of some pizza joint more authentically St. Louis-style is the fact that their pizza is radically better-tasting than St. Louis-style pizza...)
posted by jjjjjjjijjjjjjj at 3:26 PM on September 30, 2008

The only earthly reason I can possibly think of to eat at Black Thorne instead of some pizza joint more authentically St. Louis-style is the fact that their pizza is radically better-tasting than St. Louis-style pizza

Blasphemy!
posted by chrisamiller at 3:53 PM on September 30, 2008 [1 favorite]

Every non-St. Louisan I've ever met thinks Imo's (authentic STL-Style pizza) is revolting.
Being a native, I love it.
The atmosphere at Black Thorn is better, though.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 4:18 PM on September 30, 2008

I want to come! I missed the Chicago meetup and I'm living in Chesterfield right now. I've never been to a meetup before either.
posted by Locative at 6:10 PM on September 30, 2008

Every non-St. Louisan I've ever met thinks Imo's (authentic STL-Style pizza) is revolting.

Perhaps, but being an ex-St. Louisan, I miss it horribly.
posted by chrisamiller at 6:50 PM on September 30, 2008

I was born and raised in St. Louis, and I think St. Louis-style pizza is an abomination.

I do miss Ted Drewes like mad, though.
posted by The Pusher Robot at 7:13 PM on September 30, 2008 [1 favorite]

Chrisamiller, should you wish to replicate Imo's, you can do so by taking a very large Saltine, covering it with the cheapest ketchup you can by, hitting it with a mist of Cheez-Wiz, then microwaving until soggy. Gently drag a meatball over the bubbling sauce, but don't leave it in. Wait until chilly and stiff, like Bowser that traumatic fall morning when you went to see him at his doghouse.

Mmm, memories.
posted by adipocere at 8:42 PM on September 30, 2008 [1 favorite]

Stop it, adipocere. You're making me salivate.
posted by chrisamiller at 9:03 PM on September 30, 2008

I added the meetup to the sidebar. When we have it, I will gladly take advice on what pizza to avoid. I'm from the mid-atlantic, after all...home of good pizza.
posted by sjuhawk31 at 9:58 AM on October 1, 2008

When we have it, I will gladly take advice on what pizza to avoid. I'm from the mid-atlantic, after all...home of good pizza.

Watch it now... Only us locals get to make fun of our own shitty pizza... And then only to one-another. Whatever I may have said earlier, it does not change my official position -- which is that StL-style pizza is the best in the entire world.

(Also: The InBev buyout may change this over time, but it's still not OK for beer snobs to denigrate Busch or Bud in this town, at least for now...)
posted by jjjjjjjijjjjjjj at 10:12 AM on October 1, 2008

I hereby will not look down on A-B's shitty beer.

Oops.

I'm told there are some good microbrews that A-B does, so I'll be happy to keep an open mind. But, as a beer drinker, Bud Lite is foul. Bud is actually half-drinkable.
posted by sjuhawk31 at 10:22 AM on October 1, 2008

Don't worry, Black Thorn has micros. Two, maybe three from the largest locally-owned brewery (ha!), Schlafly, and some other things like Bitburger.
posted by notsnot at 10:37 AM on October 1, 2008

Hey, I want to come! More details please!
posted by Kimothy at 10:55 PM on October 5, 2008

More details, definitely. I'm game, just need to know the time we're meeting. : )
posted by limeonaire at 11:27 PM on October 5, 2008

Here's the details:

Where: Black Thorn Pub, 3735 Wyoming St
When: 6 p.m...I'll need my St. Louis cohorts to confirm that the time works for them...Green Eyed Monster, notsnot, Locative? Does that give everyone adequate time to travel from work?
posted by sjuhawk31 at 6:01 AM on October 6, 2008

6:00 will work for notsnot and me.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 8:41 AM on October 6, 2008

I can make it at 6 PM. What is the parking situation like there?
posted by Locative at 1:40 PM on October 7, 2008

Solely on-street parking in that neighborhood, but it shouldn't be a major hangup. Map here.
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 4:33 PM on October 7, 2008

Due to a previously made commitment, I'll be late, but I think I'll make it.
posted by horseblind at 5:24 AM on October 8, 2008

Great news, horseblind.

Looking forward to meeting everyone.
posted by sjuhawk31 at 10:40 AM on October 8, 2008

Should work for Kimothy and I, as far as I know... Might be a little late, though, seeing as I've never been there.
posted by limeonaire at 8:37 PM on October 8, 2008

I will be there, though I may be later.

I want my highway back!
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 8:14 PM on October 9, 2008

Sounds fun, I've never been to a MeFi meetup, but I plan on being there.
posted by sappidus at 10:08 PM on October 10, 2008

I suppose I need to wash my Mefi t-shirt (wore it yesterday, got weird looks)...if anyone needs details or directions, mefimail me.
posted by notsnot at 6:07 AM on October 13, 2008

notsnot, if you're going to be wearing a shirt, I'll rely on you to be the signage. I'll have a hard enough time finding the restaurant and looking like I'm 900 miles from home.

Looking forward to seeing everyone!
posted by sjuhawk31 at 7:38 AM on October 13, 2008

I suppose I need to wash my Mefi t-shirt (wore it yesterday, got weird looks)...if anyone needs details or directions, mefimail me.

So...when I get there, look for the MeFi shirt? I'm a little nervous about finding people.
posted by Locative at 7:54 PM on October 13, 2008

when I get there, look for the MeFi shirt?

That's what I'm gonna be doing...but, failing that, I'll be the big guy with a beard wearing a Captain Hammer t-shirt.
posted by sjuhawk31 at 5:55 AM on October 14, 2008

Yeah, look for notsnot's Metafilter shirt. I'll make sure we get there slightly before 6:00. (we live pretty close, so it shouldn't be a problem).
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 6:27 AM on October 14, 2008

Are StL bars nonsmoking?
posted by sjuhawk31 at 11:20 AM on October 14, 2008

Some of them are banning smoking, but The Black Thorn hasn't. (not that I know of anyway)
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 12:28 PM on October 14, 2008

Bah. Mayhaps I shall reconsider my attire to include clothes I do not mind smelling of smoke.
posted by sjuhawk31 at 2:11 PM on October 14, 2008

Cool! Will try to be there, tho it'll be a bit after 6.
posted by bkeaggy at 2:53 PM on October 14, 2008

Awww... I wish I could be there again! I had a lovely time when I passed through.

sjuhawk31, if I recall correctly, the smoke wasn't too bad the night I was there.
posted by -t at 4:13 PM on October 14, 2008

Question about the Black Thorn, since I can't rouse anyone there on the phone (ah, bar hours): Do they card just to enter, or can the underage get in to have a slice of pizza? I'm a card-carrying, tax-paying member of the drinking community myself, but I may be giving a ride to a student—if he can get in, that is. Any idea?
posted by limeonaire at 12:22 PM on October 15, 2008

Well, horseblind has taken his 13-year-old daughter there for pizza, so I think it'll be fine, (but they do card to have drinks.)
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 1:49 PM on October 15, 2008

Thanks to all for a wonderful evening, welcoming a stranger to your fair town. If the next four days proceed like this one, it will be a successful vacation indeed.
posted by sjuhawk31 at 8:05 PM on October 16, 2008

It was great to meet everybody. Count me in for future meetups!
posted by Locative at 8:56 PM on October 16, 2008

Definitely great to meet everyone. Hope your vacation is a great one, sjuhawk31.
posted by horseblind at 7:26 AM on October 17, 2008

Ditto ditto - and Horseblind, I will figure out where we've met before... even if it's 60 years from now on my deathbed... sudden realization a la George Costanza.
posted by Kimothy at 2:10 PM on October 17, 2008

Good times. Good times.

Does the orgy of contactification always occur after meetups?
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 4:30 PM on October 17, 2008

no. it doesn't. this time was *special* (wink)
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 6:14 PM on October 17, 2008

notsnot, didn't you take a few pictures?
posted by sjuhawk31 at 10:45 PM on October 18, 2008

yeah, we got some pictures. i'll have chris put them up soon.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 10:39 AM on October 20, 2008

They're on my Flickr...in my profile.
posted by notsnot at 11:18 AM on October 25, 2008