St. Louis: More than just an arch

St. Louis, a beautiful city situated along the Mississippi River, is an eclectic blend of big-city expansion and Southern charm. The people are generous hosts, and its peaceful surroundings are a bed of relaxation. St. Louis is home to the popular rapper Nelly, three professional sports teams and some of the best shopping malls in the Midwest. \nThe quaint city also is home to the St. Louis Gateway Arch, a 630-foot monument you can see from 20 miles outside the city. The structure greets out-of-towners as it shimmers over downtown. The Arch sits on the river, providing a cool hideout in the city. At any given moment, you can find people hanging out on the steps and riding the tram to the top. \nSeth Berkowitz, a resident of St. Louis, said the Arch is a great spot to visit.\n"I would definitely say people should hit up the landmarks and visit the Arch and the arch museums during the day," he said.\nDowntown St. Louis is a playground for all ages. Located right across from the Arch is the Casino Queen, a four-story riverboat modeled after a 19th-century side-wheel riverboat. The Casino gives tourists a chance to gamble, eat and sleep, all while floating down the Mississippi. \nIf you are more of a sports fan, finding a game won't be a problem. The St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues and the St. Louis Rams can be found here. The tickets are a steal, and the arenas are as good as new. \nThe Historic Soulard Market on Seventh Street is an example of the Southern charm the city has to offer. This market is four corridors long with a snack bar in the middle. It is jam packed on Saturday afternoons with people buying fruit, meats and flowers at an unbelievably cheap price. Aaron Berkowitz, a resident of St. Louis and junior at IU, works at the market and said many people hang out there. \n"It is so packed between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.; there are a lot of people here," he said. "It is the cheapest place to buy fruit in St. Louis."\nYou can even get a live chicken, sunglasses, hats, jewelry, art and Cardinal memorabilia.\nIf a person is looking for something a little more serene, Forest Park is the place to go. Forest Park is the biggest park in the United States. The park is 500 acres bigger than Central Park in New York City and holds some of the more popular visiting sites. It contains the St. Louis Zoo, the St. Louis Science Center, the art museum, history museum and The Muny Opera. \nSeth Berkowitz said the park is a great place for tourists to spend time. \n"I would tell someone visiting to go to Forest Park and hit up the museums," he said. \nIf you are looking for something a little more hip and entertaining, the Loop is the place for you. The Loop is a historic part of downtown where trolleys would loop around in order to go in the same direction. There are no longer trolleys on the Loop; instead it is a strip of hip and trendy boutiques, clubs and restaurants. The Loop is located on Delmar Street, where you can find the St. Louis Walk of Fame. \n"Everyone from eight-year-olds to 68-year-olds hang out on the Loop," Aaron Berkowitz said. "I would say it is the most eclectic place in the city." \nThere is something for everyone at the Loop. You can find people with green mohawks, people doing Capoeira (a Brazilian martial art) and freestyle battles on the street.\nA particular store, Rag O' Rama, is a brightly painted retro used clothing store. Patrons walk in and out as a live DJ spins popular 80's music like Michael Jackson, INXS and The Beverly Hills Cop theme. Right next door is Good Luck, a hip/chic shoe boutique that has all the latest shoe fashions with the décor to match. \nThe Loop is also where the night comes to life. There is Pageant -- a concert night club -- The Delmar Restaurant and Lounge and Blueberry Hill. \nDJ Mike Davis, aka "Mike The 2600 King," said he would recommend Blueberry Hill for its live radio broadcast, "The Science" -- a classic hip-hop show. One of the more famous clubs is the Monastery, where people from Illinois and Missouri go to dance to the latest hip-hop. The Monastery is also where the latest dance "The Chicken Head" originated. If hip-hop isn't your scene, Davis suggested college kids party at Lo on Wednesday nights. \n"The Lo is a lot of 80's pop/dance music. About 100 to 150 college students party there along with a lot of art kids," Davis said \nAtomic Cowboy, an offbeat coffee shop/art gallery is another night spot Davis suggests. \nIt is an art gallery by day, but then DJs start spinning at night. The lounge caters to a 21-and-up venue. Davis said the crowd is a little more laid-back than other clubs. \n"It is a lounge and has a little more of a sophisticated crowd," Davis said. "They play a lot of electronic/hip-hop, but it is more electronic."\nTo get a slice of urban culture, visit The Wall or "Mural Mile." The Wall, originally a flood wall, is a mile-long display of graffiti. Mural Mile features artists from all over the country and the world. The colorful graffiti was a part of a Festival called Paint St. Louis and is now a haven for the best graffiti masterpieces in "The Lou."\nWhen you get hungry, there are plenty of places to eat. The Hill is a popular Italian neighborhood that is home to some of the best Italian restaurants in St. Louis. Ira Berkowitz, a resident of St. Louis, said if you like Italian, the Hill is the place to eat. \n"There have to be at least 30 Italian restaurants there. I would go to Cunetto's House of Pasta or Favazza's -- they are really good Italian restaurants," Ira Berkowitz said.\nThe restaurants serve authentic Italian food, and you can also find toasted ravioli, a popular dish among St. Louis residents. The dish is deep-fried ravioli served with a side of marinara sauce.\nThe Hill restaurants serve a variety of Italian food and desserts. The 30-plus restaurants also make it easy to find a place within your price range. \nYou can find other restaurants on Delmar Street. St. Louis Bubble Tea, a spot on the Loop, is a tea bar where you can find "bubble tea," a fruity drink and tea popular in urban areas. You can also find the drink in Chinatown where it was originally discovered.\nAfter dinner, there's only one place to go -- Ted Drew's frozen custard shop. This thick and creamy custard is unique to St. Louis and is an excellent treat on a hot summer night. It is very popular, and you can find a crowd of 70 or more people waiting in line to get their hands on a world-famous Concrete, the equivalent to a blizzard.\n"It is the best ice cream you have ever tasted, and they are fast," Aaron Berkowitz said.\nMany of the locals hang out there and eat ice cream. One of the best things about it is that it doesn't close until 2 a.m.\nSt. Louis in a nutshell: It is a great city with a lot of ways to keep busy and beautiful places to see. It is educational, historic, cultural and has a way of changing with the times. There is plenty to do, and anyone visiting won't have any trouble keeping busy. \nA word of advice for those planning a visit to St. Louis: don't do "The Chicken Head," many locals feel it is an embarrassment.