Visiting St. Louis for Strange Loop, Questions

[Keith Bennett]

Hi, everyone. I'm a software developer living in Reston, Virginia, in
the Washington DC area. I just registered for Strange Loop 2010
(http://strangeloop2010.com/), which sounds like it's going to be an
awesome conference.

I have some questions about visiting the area. I'm involved in
several user groups in my area (Ruby, Java, Testing, Clojure, Alt.Net,
XP, Linux, and occasionally, Mac), and was hoping that you'd feel a
little brotherhood and help me out. ;)

I would understand if you don't want to carry on this discussion on
list, but if people could respond to me even privately, or point me to
other resources, I'd really appreciate it.

Here are my questions:

1) I passed through St. Louis once many years ago, but never stopped
there. The conference is Thursday and Friday, and I'm considering
spending the weekend there before returning home. Can you recommend
any activities to do or sights to see? I'm not much into touristy
stuff, but like exploring places, meeting people, volunteering,
teaching, studying, etc.

2) Would your group like to do something that Saturday afternoon or
evening (Oct. 16th)? (I exclude the morning because I expect to sleep
late the morning after the conference.)

3) The conference hotel is the Moonrise Hotel, and even with the group
discount, it's $169 per night. I noticed that there are other hotels
not too far away that are much cheaper, e.g. Sheraton Clayton Plaza or
Crowne Plaza. Can you give me any guidance as to what areas are nice,
safe, and reasonably priced, and/or give me specific hotel
recommendations?

Regards,
Keith

---
Keith R. Bennett
Senior Software Consultant
Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/keithrbennett
Blogs: http://krbtech.wordpress.com, http://keithrbennett.wordpress.com

[Mario Aquino]

I hadn't heard whether any post-strangeloop hackfests have been proposed, but I am into it. We'd need to figure out a location and some logistics, but with the brainpower that will be concentrated in the loop from that conference, it would be well worth the effort. Is anyone else on this list interested as well?

Also, as for hotel locations close to the conference, you won't go wrong in Clayton. It's one of the gems of St. Louis.

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[Mike Gaffney]

The moonrise is in the loop which is an trendy / hippy / alternative area with lots of good restaurants and bars and obama's favorite pizza joint, pi. Clayton is a more upscale area. Both are 'safe'. Clayton is an affluent business area.

One thing i'd really suggest seeing is the city museum in downtown. I don't think there's anything else like it. It's a jungle gym for all ages. http://www.citymuseum.org/home.asp. I've heard it referred to as 'one of the coolest things ever', 'insane', 'i can't believe they haven't been sued', and 'i want to sue them for not being around when I was a kid'.

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

---

[Alex Miller]

I'm happy to publish the info somewhere if anyone plans something like this.  [I personally will be passed out somewhere, hopefully with beer in hand. :)]  

The other hotels you mention are fine.  There is some other hotel and travel info here btw:

http://strangeloop2010.com/pages/travel

Alex

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From: Mario Aquino <mario.e...@gmail.com>
To: "stl...@googlegroups.com" <stl...@googlegroups.com>
Cc: Alex Miller <alexd...@yahoo.com>
Sent: Sat, July 17, 2010 5:43:03 PM
Subject: Re: [stlruby] Visiting St. Louis for Strange Loop, Questions

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[Craig Buchek]

> 1) any activities to do or sights to see?

I'd recommend the St. Louis Zoo, the Science Center, or just about
anything in Forest Park. Almost everything is free (if you find free
parking).

For something really unique, check out the Cahokia Mounds, or the
confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. If you have a bike,
there are a lot of bike trails, especially along the rivers.

> 2) Would your group like to do something that Saturday afternoon or
> evening (Oct. 16th)?

I'll be returning from vacation Friday evening (missing the conference
-- doh!) so would likely be up for something. I won't be able to help
with planning though, as I'll be incommunicado the week prior.

> 3) other hotels not too far away that are much cheaper, e.g. Sheraton

> Clayton Plaza or Crowne Plaza.  Can you give me any guidance as to what
> areas are nice, safe, and reasonably priced, and/or give me specific hotel
> recommendations?

The hotels in Clayton are still going to be expensive. The Red Roof
Inn listed on the Strange Loop site will probably be the best price,
if you have a car. I've been there; it's a bit older, but was still a
halfway decent motel a few years back. The Cheshire is nearby and
interesting, but I've never seen the rooms myself. The hotels just
east of Forest Park should all be nice, as well as the new Hampton Inn
just south of the park.

The venue is at the east end of the Loop. You should check out the
rest of the Loop -- lots of little shops and restaurants. But the
neighborhoods just a few blocks north (and some pockets to the east)
can get a bit rough. For food, in addition to the Loop, check out the
Hill and Central West End neighborhoods.

[Ed Howland]

>
> The hotels in Clayton are still going to be expensive. The Red Roof
> Inn listed on the Strange Loop site will probably be the best price,
> if you have a car. I've been there; it's a bit older, but was still a
> halfway decent motel a few years back. The Cheshire is nearby and
> interesting, but I've never seen the rooms myself. The hotels just
> east of Forest Park should all be nice, as well as the new Hampton Inn
> just south of the park.
>

>\

Again, if you have a car, I'd recommend any of the Drury Plazas, Inns,
etc. They have reasonably low rates and very pleasant surroundings.
Get on their mailing list and you might score a deeper discount. Also,
try hotels.com, expedia and orbitz, and other online discount places.

Cheers,
Ed

Ed Howland
http://greenprogrammer.wordpress.com
http://twitter.com/ed_howland

[Don Ellis]

Response to Craig's suggestions on food: The Hill is a must-see. Excellent bakeries and spaghetti places, genuine Italian. Amaghetti's is a landmark, across from a church with a monument to early immigrants.

South Grand also has some excellent eating opportunities.

I especially recommend the Science Center for fun stuff to see. Used to have an old Cray on display.

One special thing about St. Louis - the museums are all free (except for the City Museum, which is private).

--Don Ellis

[Amos King]

The Cheshire is a great hotel.  I've stayed there twice.  The bar is great(Best Bars in St. Louis Award), and in the summer they have a wine bar on the patio. The prices weren't bad either.  A double queen is $79 a night.

Amos

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[Keith Bennett]

Thanks, everyone, for all the helpful information.

I'm really looking forward to my visit, and hope to see the city
museum and science center, probably on the Saturday after the
conference. Maybe that could be our outing?

- Keith

[Amos King]

Keith,

I really think passing up on the zoo is a bad thing in STL. It is one of the best zoos I have ever been to, and it is free.

Amos

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[Don Ellis]

 And, at the zoo, you have to see the bird house (huge, they can fly around inside, and I think it's left over from the Fair, or inspired by a feature from there).

Overall, pretty fine -- much better than most. The sculpture at the Southeast entrance is really huge and complicated, and interesting. A record setter.

I also like the Living World exhibit. A collection of multi-media exhibits, well presented and interesting.

So, yes, I concur, and you will need to set aside some real time for the zoo. Not a quick walkthrough.

--Don Ellis