St. Louis Aquarium
201 S 18th St,
St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 923-3900
https://www.stlouisaquarium.com/
See my other St. Louis Hidden Gems HERE.
Showing posts with label Union Station. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Union Station. Show all posts
Sunday, January 5, 2020
A peek at an afternoon at the new St. Louis Aquarium...
St. Louis Aquarium
201 S 18th St,
St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 923-3900
https://www.stlouisaquarium.com/
Friday, August 3, 2018
Morning Scene from Aloe Plaza- "The Meeting Of the Waters" fountain
The beauty is always in the details...
I have always been slightly obsessed with the faces of the "The Meeting of the Waters” fountain in front of Union Station, depicting the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers (and their tributaries).
Artist Carl Milles, circa 1939.
See this lovely in front of Union Station in the 1800 block of Market Street in Downtown St. Louis.
TIP: To see the actual confluence of the Mighty Miss and the Missouri, visit this local "Hidden Gem" that I recently featured. The viewing area sits at the very back end of the conservation area!
TIP: To see the actual confluence of the Mighty Miss and the Missouri, visit this local "Hidden Gem" that I recently featured. The viewing area sits at the very back end of the conservation area!
See more of my St. Louis Hidden Gems HERE.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Hidden Gem: Polar Express Train Ride to the North Pole via Union Station
Once upon a time, I had two little train fanatics...
When the boys were little, our days and weekends were spent exploring the train car graveyard at the Museum of Transportation, walking the abandoned tracks of Union Station, taking in the Meramec River view aboard the mini railroad, and enjoying ice cream at the Kirkwood Custard Station in hopes that an Amtrak would race by.
That is why, when I heard that this was coming to town...
... I felt compelled to share!
Bundle your kiddies up in their fuzziest jammies and take them on a magical train journey to the North Pole via Union Station. The classic children's book (and movie), the Polar Express, comes to life on this 6 mile holiday railroad journey around St. Louis. Chef characters serve hot chocolate and fresh-baked cookies to all passengers onboard the trains, and lead holiday carols until the "big guy" enters the train car himself ...
A unique holiday experience that your kids are destined to remember forever. Magical indeed!
For more information....
St. Louis Union Station
1820 Market Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63103
CALL: (314) 621-5262
WEB: http://www.stlpolarexpressride.com/
FACEBOOK EVENT: https://www.facebook.com/events/1545667705667840/
FAQ: http://www.stlpolarexpressride.com/faq.html
See more of my "Hidden Gems" HERE!
"Pin It" HERE.
When the boys were little, our days and weekends were spent exploring the train car graveyard at the Museum of Transportation, walking the abandoned tracks of Union Station, taking in the Meramec River view aboard the mini railroad, and enjoying ice cream at the Kirkwood Custard Station in hopes that an Amtrak would race by.
That is why, when I heard that this was coming to town...
... I felt compelled to share!
Bundle your kiddies up in their fuzziest jammies and take them on a magical train journey to the North Pole via Union Station. The classic children's book (and movie), the Polar Express, comes to life on this 6 mile holiday railroad journey around St. Louis. Chef characters serve hot chocolate and fresh-baked cookies to all passengers onboard the trains, and lead holiday carols until the "big guy" enters the train car himself ...
A unique holiday experience that your kids are destined to remember forever. Magical indeed!
For more information....
St. Louis Union Station
1820 Market Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63103
CALL: (314) 621-5262
WEB: http://www.stlpolarexpressride.com/
FACEBOOK EVENT: https://www.facebook.com/events/1545667705667840/
FAQ: http://www.stlpolarexpressride.com/faq.html
See more of my "Hidden Gems" HERE!
"Pin It" HERE.
Friday, October 3, 2014
St. Louis Weekend Happenings: October 3 - 5
The weekend forecast is amazing, St. Louis! Grab the family and enjoy one of the many family-friendly events going on in the Metro.
Food Truck Friday sponsored by Sauce Magazine
This is your last opportunity to enjoy the 4th season of Food Truck Friday in Tower Grove Park with music by Miss Jubilee. Friday, October 3 from 3:30 to 7
Tower Grove Park
4256 Magnolia Ave
Saint Louis, MO 63110
Truck lineup and more info can be found HERE.
Oktoberfest at Union Station
Munich on the Mississippi! Oktoberfest at Union Station offers two stages featuring live performances showcasing German culture throughout the day and night. The main stage features live music by the likes of 20-piece Deutschmeister Brass Band and Uber Cool. While the German Cultural stage hosts live displays of various facets of Germany's rich culture like Dance Troupes, contests, choral performances, and more.October 3, 2014 from 3pm -11pm
October 4, 2014 from 11am-11pm
1820 Market Street
Ticket and event information HERE.
Taste of Benton Park
October 4, 2014 from 10am - 6pm
S Jefferson Ave at Arsenal St
Saint Louis, MO 63104
More information HERE.
Grovefest 2014
The 9th annual Grovefest features a multitude of different street vendors, live music and all-around entertainment. Sponsor Urban Chestnut is also unveiling a special brew for the occasion, so make sure you start your October right with one of the biggest STL events of the year.
October 4, 2014 from 2pm-10pm
In the Grove Neighborhood on Manchester
More information HERE.
31st Annual Belleville Chili Cookoff
October 4, 2014 from 11am - 10pm
More information HERE.
Monday, August 11, 2014
THIS is the Ferguson, Missouri that I know and love.
I originally wrote this blog post about Ferguson back in October of 2009. I figured if there was ever an appropriate time to update and resurrect it, it is today. Ferguson, and St. Louis as a whole, has received extensive worldwide press over the last week in regards to riots and looting in response to the untimely death of local boy, Mike Brown.
Resurrecting this post serves as a gentle reminder from this Native St. Louisan, who suffers from a heavy heart this AM: Ferguson, MO is not a war zone. It is a beautiful community with caring residents, a rich history, and stunning historic architecture. North County- I and your city rally around you and pray for peace and real conversation.
When most St Louisans dream of sipping lemonade on the porch swing of a stunning 100+ year old century home like this......
...Webster Groves often comes to mind.
While Webster is indeed the home to a number of GORGEOUS century old properties, this particular home is in fact in Ferguson, MO- a suburb just NW of Downtown. For locals who are not familiar with Ferguson, their first visit to the area is often a surprising one! Those of us in the real estate industry are well aware of the area's rich history, awesome hidden gems, and lovely historical properties. I felt compelled to share!
St Louis developers were initially drawn to both areas, due to their location directly on railroad lines, allowing a simple commute to the city. Webster sat on the Pacific railroad line to the southwest of the city, while Ferguson sat on the Wabash railroad line to the northwest of the city. Both areas offered residents superb housing options in a country-like atmosphere, as well as a swift commute to downtown St. Louis jobs.
As both cities were developed at the same time for virtually the same purpose and demographic... the architectural styles and finishes are almost identical. Many of the homes originally built in Downtown Historic Ferguson are still there today, including the one at the top of this blog post.
Here is a peek at some of the other historic architectural goodies in Ferguson, via photos that I copied this AM directly from the St. Louis MLS system. This, locals/nationwide/worldwide audience, is also Ferguson, Missouri...
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Union Station Phase 1 REVEAL- Grand Hall lobby
Phase one of the multi-million dollar renovation of Union Station is well underway, and with the opening of the new and improved Grand Hall, the internet is buzzing with videos like this of the impressive rotating light shows...
A little local history lesson...
St. Louis Union Station, circa 1894, was once the largest and busiest passenger rail terminal in the world. Built for $6.5 million and primarily of Indiana limestone, St. Louis Union Station was designed to not only be functional, but beautiful...
The train station acted as the main central hub between the east and the west for decades, and was designed with three main areas: The Headhouse, Midway, and Trainshed.
The Headhouse originally boasted a hotel, restaurant, passenger waiting rooms, railroad ticketing offices, and a clock tower....
The crown jewel of the Headhouse, however, was the gold-leafed Grand Hall...
One of the main gathering spots during the famous 1902 St. Louis World's Fair era, Grandhall featured an impressive 65ft barrel vaulted ceiling, mosaic, Romanesque archways, and the STUNNING "Allegorical Window" made from hand-cut Tiffany glass and strategically positioned above the Station's main "Whispering Arch" entryway ...
The window features three women, representing the main US train terminals of the time: New York, St. Louis, and San Francisco...
The Midway, a covered transfer area between the Headhouse and the Trainshed, provided a place for train passengers to bid farewell and/or welcome family and friends...
Union Station's 11+ acre Train Shed, the largest in the world at the time, included 42 tracks and combined the St. Louis passenger services of 22 railroads at its peak...
Unlike other train stations, trains backed into the Union Station underneath the shed, allowing passengers quick and covered access to the Midway and Headhouse. In the 1940s, it is said that the train terminal handled a whopping 100,000 passengers per day! In fact, recall this famous photograph from your US History class of Harry S. Truman proudly displaying the misprint made by the Chicago Tribune after his upset victory over Thomas Dewey in the 1948 Presidential Election?
It was taken at our Union Station as Truman headed back to Washington DC from Independence, MO. Rich history, to say the least.
In 1976, Union Station was designated a National Historic Landmark. The advent of planes saw train travel decrease, however, until the last train pulled out of Union Station in 1978. In 1979, a property company purchased the Station for $5.5 million. The dilapidated structure sat empty until it reopened in the mid 1980's after an enormous $140+ million restoration, making it the largest adaptive re-use project in the United States.
As a native St. Louisan and as a teen at the time of the 1980's reopening... it was a big deal. Truly, the place to be with restaurants, hotels, and shops galore. While mostly geared towards visitors of our city, it was a very popular destination for locals, as well. Particularly before and after downtown events, such as Cardinals games and concerts...
In recent years, however, locals have genuinely worried about the future of Union Station as the shops and restaurants have slowly closed down, leaving this historic landmark a virtual Ghost Town...
In 2012, Lodging Hospitality Management bought the station and its 539-room hotel for $20 million with the goal of restoring it to its original glory. I am not going to lie, locals have been nervously sitting on pins and needles while closely following the project to see what direction is was going.
LHM revealed BIG plans for the structure and has made ever bigger promises to the city including a 2 level family entertainment area, a parking lot climate-controlled Ferris wheel, new restaurants, a fabulous new event and convention space, and more.
I was aware that the Union Station hotel, now a Doubletree, had undergone a massive $30+ million renovation. In fact, I followed much of the progress on Instagram as craftsman associated with the City Museum posted real-time renovation photos, including this AMAZING original plasterwork detail found behind a wall in March of this year...
That being said, it wasn't until the recent public reveal and opening of the renovated Grand Hall (now Doubletree hotel lobby) that locals have been able to grasp the TRUE vision of Lodging Hospitality Management and future for our beloved Union Station...
The most interesting feature of the reno? 3D ceiling projections, each 30 to 45 seconds in length, that will be shown at least hourly over the bar and restaurant featuring craft cocktails, and gourmet "small bite" dishes.
A little peek of what you can expect...
Neat, right? Add it to your local "bucket list", St. Louis!
Connect with Grand Hall at...
St. Louis Union Station
1820 Market Street
St. Louis, MO 63103
Web: http://www.grandhall-stl.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGrandHallSTL
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheGrandHallSTL
A little local history lesson...
St. Louis Union Station, circa 1894, was once the largest and busiest passenger rail terminal in the world. Built for $6.5 million and primarily of Indiana limestone, St. Louis Union Station was designed to not only be functional, but beautiful...
The train station acted as the main central hub between the east and the west for decades, and was designed with three main areas: The Headhouse, Midway, and Trainshed.
The Headhouse originally boasted a hotel, restaurant, passenger waiting rooms, railroad ticketing offices, and a clock tower....
The crown jewel of the Headhouse, however, was the gold-leafed Grand Hall...
One of the main gathering spots during the famous 1902 St. Louis World's Fair era, Grandhall featured an impressive 65ft barrel vaulted ceiling, mosaic, Romanesque archways, and the STUNNING "Allegorical Window" made from hand-cut Tiffany glass and strategically positioned above the Station's main "Whispering Arch" entryway ...
The window features three women, representing the main US train terminals of the time: New York, St. Louis, and San Francisco...
The Midway, a covered transfer area between the Headhouse and the Trainshed, provided a place for train passengers to bid farewell and/or welcome family and friends...
Union Station's 11+ acre Train Shed, the largest in the world at the time, included 42 tracks and combined the St. Louis passenger services of 22 railroads at its peak...
Unlike other train stations, trains backed into the Union Station underneath the shed, allowing passengers quick and covered access to the Midway and Headhouse. In the 1940s, it is said that the train terminal handled a whopping 100,000 passengers per day! In fact, recall this famous photograph from your US History class of Harry S. Truman proudly displaying the misprint made by the Chicago Tribune after his upset victory over Thomas Dewey in the 1948 Presidential Election?
It was taken at our Union Station as Truman headed back to Washington DC from Independence, MO. Rich history, to say the least.
In 1976, Union Station was designated a National Historic Landmark. The advent of planes saw train travel decrease, however, until the last train pulled out of Union Station in 1978. In 1979, a property company purchased the Station for $5.5 million. The dilapidated structure sat empty until it reopened in the mid 1980's after an enormous $140+ million restoration, making it the largest adaptive re-use project in the United States.
As a native St. Louisan and as a teen at the time of the 1980's reopening... it was a big deal. Truly, the place to be with restaurants, hotels, and shops galore. While mostly geared towards visitors of our city, it was a very popular destination for locals, as well. Particularly before and after downtown events, such as Cardinals games and concerts...
In recent years, however, locals have genuinely worried about the future of Union Station as the shops and restaurants have slowly closed down, leaving this historic landmark a virtual Ghost Town...
In 2012, Lodging Hospitality Management bought the station and its 539-room hotel for $20 million with the goal of restoring it to its original glory. I am not going to lie, locals have been nervously sitting on pins and needles while closely following the project to see what direction is was going.
LHM revealed BIG plans for the structure and has made ever bigger promises to the city including a 2 level family entertainment area, a parking lot climate-controlled Ferris wheel, new restaurants, a fabulous new event and convention space, and more.
I was aware that the Union Station hotel, now a Doubletree, had undergone a massive $30+ million renovation. In fact, I followed much of the progress on Instagram as craftsman associated with the City Museum posted real-time renovation photos, including this AMAZING original plasterwork detail found behind a wall in March of this year...
That being said, it wasn't until the recent public reveal and opening of the renovated Grand Hall (now Doubletree hotel lobby) that locals have been able to grasp the TRUE vision of Lodging Hospitality Management and future for our beloved Union Station...
The most interesting feature of the reno? 3D ceiling projections, each 30 to 45 seconds in length, that will be shown at least hourly over the bar and restaurant featuring craft cocktails, and gourmet "small bite" dishes.
A little peek of what you can expect...
Neat, right? Add it to your local "bucket list", St. Louis!
Connect with Grand Hall at...
St. Louis Union Station
1820 Market Street
St. Louis, MO 63103
Web: http://www.grandhall-stl.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGrandHallSTL
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheGrandHallSTL
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Weekend Happenings...
Friday is around the corner and there is a lot going on this weekend, St. Louis! Just a few of your choices...
ArtDTour of St. Louis
WHEN:
Friday, August 6, 2010, 5:30 pm - past midnight
WHERE:
Arrive at the St. Louis Art Museum at 5:30 so you can view the exhibit there and enjoy food samples before boarding the shuttle. Shuttles depart at 6:30.
WHAT:
Night of local art appreciation brought to you by the St. Louis Artist Guild and ArtDimensions of St. Louis. Take off from the art museum in an air-conditioned shuttle and take a city wide tour of all of the most notable museums and galleries. The fun ends at the Boathouse with a complimentary after-party from 10pm-Midnight, featuring door prizes, live music by DJ Chilly C, and complimentary appetizers from participants such as Onesto, Catering St. Louis, Sweet Art, Whole Foods, Mazara, Flaco's Cocina, Knodel's, and A Matter of Taste Catering.
FOR MORE INFO:
http://www.stlouisartistsguild.org/new/artdtour
Pere Marquette 4th Annual Peach Festival
WHEN:
Saturday, August 8 : 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
WHERE:
Pere Marquette State Park
15780 IL State Highway 100
Grafton, IL 62037
618-786-2331
WHAT:
Peaches, peaches, everywhere! Travel over to Grafton, on the Great River Road, to join in their annual celebration of the local peach season. Featuring crafts, children's activities, delicious peach pies / drinks/ goodies, peach-themed vendors and artisans, live entertainment, live music, largest peach contest, and tons of family fun!
FOR MORE INFO:
http://63.135.118.189/events.cfm
Twilight Under the Train Shed movie series
WHEN:
Friday, August 6 : 8:45 p.m.
WHERE:
St. Louis Union Station- Outdoor Train Shed
1820 Market St.
St. Louis, MO 63103
WHAT:
I blogged about this fun event last year! This Friday, watch Back to the Future under the stars
FOR MORE INFO:
http://www.stlouisunionstation.com/go/Poolb.cfm?MallID=769&FPURLID=2129970466
Free Local Outdoor Concerts
You can find them this weekend at the Zoo,in Benton Park, in Kirkwood, at Carondelet Park, and in Manchester
ArtDTour of St. Louis
WHEN:Friday, August 6, 2010, 5:30 pm - past midnight
WHERE:
Arrive at the St. Louis Art Museum at 5:30 so you can view the exhibit there and enjoy food samples before boarding the shuttle. Shuttles depart at 6:30.
WHAT:
Night of local art appreciation brought to you by the St. Louis Artist Guild and ArtDimensions of St. Louis. Take off from the art museum in an air-conditioned shuttle and take a city wide tour of all of the most notable museums and galleries. The fun ends at the Boathouse with a complimentary after-party from 10pm-Midnight, featuring door prizes, live music by DJ Chilly C, and complimentary appetizers from participants such as Onesto, Catering St. Louis, Sweet Art, Whole Foods, Mazara, Flaco's Cocina, Knodel's, and A Matter of Taste Catering.
FOR MORE INFO:
http://www.stlouisartistsguild.org/new/artdtour
Pere Marquette 4th Annual Peach Festival
WHEN:Saturday, August 8 : 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
WHERE:
Pere Marquette State Park
15780 IL State Highway 100
Grafton, IL 62037
618-786-2331
WHAT:
Peaches, peaches, everywhere! Travel over to Grafton, on the Great River Road, to join in their annual celebration of the local peach season. Featuring crafts, children's activities, delicious peach pies / drinks/ goodies, peach-themed vendors and artisans, live entertainment, live music, largest peach contest, and tons of family fun!
FOR MORE INFO:
http://63.135.118.189/events.cfm
Twilight Under the Train Shed movie series
WHEN:Friday, August 6 : 8:45 p.m.
WHERE:
St. Louis Union Station- Outdoor Train Shed
1820 Market St.
St. Louis, MO 63103
WHAT:
I blogged about this fun event last year! This Friday, watch Back to the Future under the stars
FOR MORE INFO:
http://www.stlouisunionstation.com/go/Poolb.cfm?MallID=769&FPURLID=2129970466
Free Local Outdoor Concerts
You can find them this weekend at the Zoo,in Benton Park, in Kirkwood, at Carondelet Park, and in Manchester
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Gather your family and blankets...
... and head to Union Station tomorrow night (Friday, 9/4), for their final movie in the free Twilight Under the Train Shed outdoor summer movie series.Playing tomorrow night is "Standing In the Shadows of Motown" - an award-winning documentary featuring the Funk Brothers, the unheralded studio musicians who played on more number one hits than Elvis, the Beach Boys, Rollings Stones, and Beatles COMBINED!
My Girl, Baby Love, Heard It Through The Grapevine, For Once in my Life... all the Funk Brothers.
Great music, good times! The movie starts at sunset. Should you decide to go early and enjoy dinner or shopping at Union Station, HERE is a link to an ENTIRE page of Union Station coupons... including free fudge, parking and paddle boat ride discounts, and a bottle of wine for a price of a glass at the new Beechwood Bistro (owned by the same people who own the yummy Sage in Soulard).
Below are the Funk Brothers with the Four Tops, performing "Baby I need Your Lovin' "...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)