Meet-up Me in St. Louis?

October 30, 2009 4:50 PM

Any St. Louis MeFites interested in gathering on Friday, November 6? I'm traveling to town for a conference. Looking for suggestions on a place to get a great beer, and welcoming anyone who would like to join me.

This will be my first visit to the Gateway to the West, and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to meet strangers from the internets. The conference is taking place downtown, right next to the Gateway Arch. I'll be without car, so I'd prefer something within walking distance of there. Otherwise, I'm open to suggestions. Start time is also negotiable, anything after 5:30 is cool.

posted by turtlegirl to MetaFilter Gatherings at 4:50 PM (31 comments total)

I got the St. Louis blues,
blue as I can be...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:07 AM on October 31, 2009

I'd be up for it, but closer to 9 (I'm flying back into town that evening). Laclede's Landing has bars and the like, but if you're by the Arch, you're also right by the metrolink, which can take you to other potentially more interesting places in STL. I'll defer to other people for location options, though.
posted by ChuraChura at 1:46 PM on October 31, 2009

Which building is the conference in? Might help to know when considering what walking distance is.

Otherwise, I might be able to make this, but it'd have to be after 6 or 6:15 for me.
posted by Kimothy at 2:42 PM on October 31, 2009

I'd be game.

Also, I'm sure one of us would be willing to come pick you up if you're someplace where it's a hike, it's raining, etc.

And given the address, here's an even more specific St. Louis musical reference. (Previously)
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 8:04 PM on October 31, 2009

I'd say stay away from Lacledes Landing unless you like the pickup scene & dbags. Not very far from where you are at all is the Washington Avenue district. There is a bar there called "flamingo bowl" that is very campy, very St. Louis, and fun as it has a built in bowling alley. Plenty of other bars along there worth checking out. Just remember almost all bars in St. Louis are smoking allowed, and have poor if any smoke eating ventilation.

If nonsmoking is a priority I'd recommend the Atomic Cowboy. This is a bit away from you, but very very representative of the St. Louis underground scene. It is in a district called "The Grove" perhaps 3 miles west of downtown. Not terribly convenient to public transit.

One other perennial favorite is Blueberry Hill, in the University City area. Very smoky, has dartboards. Not one of my personal picks, but other people love it. Acessible via Metrolink train.

I'll be out of town, so have fun! Maybe next time.
posted by Antidisestablishmentarianist at 9:09 AM on November 1, 2009

Can I second Blueberry Hill? Much as I love the AC, it's really hard to get to without a car.
posted by ChuraChura at 2:20 PM on November 1, 2009

Yeah, I don't know of a lot within walking distance of the Arch that's much besides "meh." I'm always up for Blueberry Hill, though, if the OP were willing to hop MetroLink to the Delmar station.
posted by limeonaire at 3:59 PM on November 1, 2009

Downtown? Great Beer? Um, duh - the Tap Room!

It's out at 21st Ave and Locust.

As a hanger on topic, I've been talking about having A "Get rid of the beer"/"Play with fire in the backyard" party for a long time now...anyone free on Saturday evening? We have literally, a hundred kinds of beer in the fridge.
posted by notsnot at 4:05 PM on November 1, 2009

(...I'm pretty sure we're up for Friday night, too...)
posted by notsnot at 4:05 PM on November 1, 2009

I'll be in town for the weekend for a conference too, but have a reception to go to on Fri night. I haven't lived in St Louis for about 20 years, but the Venice Cafe seems like it would be a MeFi-ish place. Is the Soulard area also something of a nightspot now? I've just driven through it and it seems to have changed a great deal from how I remember it.
posted by cgk at 5:15 PM on November 1, 2009

Thanks everyone for the great ideas. I just wanted to clarify that walking distance for me includes walking to train/bus station, so CAN DO on the Metrolink. Car ride might be OK too but that means coordinating a ride back which, while not impossible, adds another scheduling wrinkle. (Though I appreciate the thought.)

Thus far, Blueberry Hill sounds like a good pick (I'm a non-smoker, not crazy about smoke but can deal just fine), as does the Tap Room.

For time we could say 6:30-whenever, latecomers welcome. Keep the suggestions coming!
posted by turtlegirl at 6:55 PM on November 1, 2009

Blueberry Hill or Tap Room, either works for me thus far.
posted by limeonaire at 5:12 AM on November 2, 2009

I'm game for whatever limeonaire is game for.


(And yeah, notsnot, we do need to do a backyard fire/beer bash...Can't do Sat. though, going to hear the STL Symphony play movie music!)
posted by Kimothy at 7:43 PM on November 2, 2009

And you know, if the Blueberry Hill is an option? Why not Cicero's, which is just a bit further down? They have, IMO, a much better drink (especially beer) selection and their dining area has recently gone "smoke free." (Which seems to be a plus for some - including me.)

Just throwing that out for consideration.
posted by Kimothy at 7:55 PM on November 2, 2009

Oooooo, I didn't even think of Cicero's. I'd like to throw my vote in that direction, actually.
posted by limeonaire at 6:27 AM on November 3, 2009

Thirding Cicero's...
posted by notsnot at 1:41 PM on November 3, 2009

Uh... please excuse my first question mark, make it a comma, and lowercase that "W." Sorry folks, nothing to see here... just a grammar drive-by.
posted by Kimothy at 2:19 PM on November 3, 2009

I'm cool with Cicero's! Probably will get there around 8 (I misread my plane time).

To get to Cicero's (or Blueberry Hill) via metrolink, get on the metrolink heading towards the Big Bend station - the Shrewsbury line, not the Lambert Airport line (I think blue rather than red). The closest stop that takes you through the least-sketchy part of town is Big Bend. You can walk along Wash U's campus until you get to a big ugly bridge which crosses Forest Park Parkway. Take the bridge across the road, walk down the path, all the way to Delmar. Cicero's is a block or so west of where you'll pop out onto Delmar (alternately, Blueberry Hill is on the corner of the street you'll be walking on, Melville, and Delmar).
posted by ChuraChura at 5:58 PM on November 3, 2009

I like both Cicero's and Blueberry Hill.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 6:16 PM on November 3, 2009

Looks like Cicero's is nudging ahead, and I'm happy to call it due to it's smoke-free-ness. One followup question though, am I going to be OK walking the 7/10 mile from the train to the bar alone, in the dark? Are there taxi stands at most metrolink stations?
posted by turtlegirl at 7:39 PM on November 3, 2009

There's not much in the way of taxis at the metro station; however, the area is residential next to a major university. Not a problem.
posted by notsnot at 5:52 AM on November 4, 2009

Turtlegirl, depending on when you're planning on going, I can meet you and we can walk together (there may be other Wash U students coming to this, so they can step in if they'll be earlier)! Memail me if you're interested. That being said, the walk to the Loop from Wash U is extremely well-traveled, well-lit, and well patrolled by the esteemed WUPD. I walk back and forth along that path very frequently.
posted by ChuraChura at 6:24 AM on November 4, 2009

Yeah, the walk from the Delmar MetroLink station to Cicero's isn't particularly dangerous—especially not on a Friday night. There'll be tons of people on the Loop. Just keep your wits about you and you'll be fine.
posted by limeonaire at 5:32 PM on November 4, 2009

(And actually, even if you don't keep your wits about you, you'll probably still be fine. I've definitely taken similar walks around the area while near-falling-down drunk in the dead of night.)

Also, I'd be happy to give you a ride back to the station afterward.
posted by limeonaire at 5:37 PM on November 4, 2009

Oh, I see—the recommendation above is to go to the Big Bend station. That also works just fine; that's the way I used to walk to/from MetroLink to get to work. (I basically live right behind Cicero's.) The walk from the Big Bend station is quieter and less populated; the walk from the Delmar station will definitely take you past more interesting characters and sights (both sketchy and not). Six one, half-dozen the other...
posted by limeonaire at 5:43 PM on November 4, 2009

Hi folks, just wanted to thank you for the help and hospitality! Looking forward to meeting all of you.
posted by turtlegirl at 6:53 PM on November 4, 2009

So we have Friday and Cicero's. Have we zeroed in on a time?
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 8:18 AM on November 5, 2009

Starting at 6:30 - latecomers welcome. Woots!
posted by turtlegirl at 2:54 PM on November 5, 2009

I took the liberty of reserving a table for us. Cicero's, 6:30, under Metafilter.
posted by turtlegirl at 2:04 PM on November 6, 2009

Sorry I missed it, folks - my plane was late. Bah! Next time.
posted by ChuraChura at 10:31 PM on November 6, 2009

Pictures up. Computer woes prevented promptness. Is anyone reading this? Bueller?
posted by Kimothy at 4:10 PM on February 17, 2010