Edition: David Sanborn Riffs on St. Louis
David Sanborn's St. Louis
Author: Beth M. Custer
Editor's Note: World-renowned, Grammy-winning jazz musician David Sanborn tours extensively in Europe, Asia, and the U.S., however, his roots are right here in St. Louis. In a recent conversation with Concierge Preferred, he shared his memories of growing up here and the local places he likes to visit.
St. Louis is my hometown
I grew up here, and so did my parents. St. Louisans are interested in where you went to school, so: I went to Osage Elementary School, Nipher Middle School and Kirkwood High School. I lived in western Kirkwood (M5;D1) across the street from a golf course. It was like having a giant park right across the street. A big group of kids would hang out there at night, run around, hunt for lost golf balls, and generally go crazy. My memories of St. Louis are mostly about the summers -- I remember having great summers. As a young kid I went to Cardinals games and St. Louis Hawks basketball games with my dad; those are two of my biggest and best recollections of growing up. One of my family's big summertime events was going to The Muny (314-361-1900), Forest Park, M4;B4). I remember sitting in that giant outdoor theatre with my folks and watching The Wizard of Oz, which scared the life out of me!
A lot of the places I went when I was growing up had to do with music. Gaslight Square was really big when I was coming of age in the 1960s. It was sort of a St. Louis version of Greenwich Village in New York. It was amazing -- you could hear big name acts like Tony Bennett, Phyllis Diller, the Smothers Brothers, and lots of jazz groups. Now Gaslight Square is being redeveloped as a residential area; there is a plaque there (Olive and Boyle, M4;B5) honoring its past history as a music and entertainment district.
Another outing we enjoyed was going to see the Dancing Waters -- it was a place in Forest Park where you could watch fountains with colored lights and listen to music. A big treat for me was going downtown with my mother and father to have dinner at Tony's (314-231-7007, 410 Market St., M2;C4). We also went to the Green Parrot, a restaurant that was famous for its fried chicken, and I loved going to Miss Hullings Cafe & Bakery with my grandfather.
There are some beautiful spots in Forest Park (M4;B4). The Saint Louis Art Museum (314-721-0072, M4;B3) has wonderful exhibits, and the Jewel Box (314-289-5300, M4;B4) is really a trip -- it's a giant green house and has all these exotic plants. The Saint Louis Zoo (314-781-0900, M4:B3) is terrific, in fact it's rated as the best zoo in the country. Have you seen those Roman columns on a hill near the zoo? I remember cutting school as a kid and going there to hang out with my friends.
When I visit my mother, sometimes we stroll down memory lane and see the sights in University City and The Loop (M4;A3) I like to go to Blueberry Hill (314-727-4444, 6504 Delmar Blvd., M4;A3), a great place to hang out and hear music, and the Pageant Theatre (314-726-6161, 6161 Delmar Blvd., M4;A3) is always a good bet too. There's always god music there -- it has an excellent sound system and great sightlines for the entire audience, and it's very well run. The Tivoli Theater (314-995-6270, 6350 Delmar Blvd., M4;A3) is a restored old movie house where they show independent and foreign films. The Walk of Fame (M4;A3) is a fun place to hang out, walk around, and read the bronze plaques that tell about all the accomplished people from St. Louis.
There are so many good restaurants in the Central West End (M4;B5). The Tenderloin Room (314-361-0900, 232 N. Kingshighway Blvd., M4;B5) in the Chase Park Plaza is a wonderful restaurant that has been there forever; they're known for their delicious steaks. One of my favorite places to eat is Duff's (314-361-0522, 392 N. Euclid Ave., M4;B5), where I once had a birthday party. The food is great, especially the fish; I recommend it without hesitation. Cafe Balaban (314-361-8085, 405 N. Euclid, M4;B5) is another good one -- my sister likes that one a lot. It's a great place for a party and it has an excellent wine list. Steak 'n Shake (multiple locations) is a big thing in St. Louis. It's famous for its steakburgers and milkshakes.
Jazz at the Bistro (314-531-1012, 3536 Washington Ave., M4;B6) is a very entertaining place to go. They have first-rate music acts that are well known both locally and internationally. The room has a great design -- the way the club is laid out makes the space feel very intimate and cozy. It's a real asset to the city, and I would recommend it as one of the highlights of a visit to St. Louis.
The Muny
Municipal Theatre Association of St. Louis, The Muny, Forest Park, St. Louis, MO 63112
For a Broadway experience under the stars, visit The Muny, America's largest and oldest outdoor musical theater. Open nightly, mid June-mid August, the Muny usually runs about 7 week-long productions of some of Broadway's most successful shows and often attracts stars of stage and screen. Like so many Forest Park attractions, the Muny truly appreciates its patrons, and as a token of that appreciation, offers 1,620 free seats for every performance. The free seats are in the back of the amphitheater and are given away on a first come, first serve basis beginning at 7 p.m. For more information on the Muny, call For a Broadway experience under the stars, visit The Muny, America's largest and oldest outdoor musical theater. Open nightly, mid June-mid August, the Muny usually runs about 7 week-long productions of some of Broadway's most successful shows and often attracts stars of stage and screen. Like so many Forest Park attractions, the Muny truly appreciates its patrons, and as a token of that appreciation, offers 1,620 free seats for every performance. The free seats are in the back of the amphitheater and are given away on a first come, first serve basis beginning at 7 p.m. For more information on the Muny, call 314-361-1900 or visit www.muny.org. or visit www.muny.org.
Tony's
410 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63102
This multi-award winning and highly esteemed restaurant offers the quintessential Italian dining experience in the heart of downtown St. Louis.
St. Louis Art Museum
1 Fine Arts Dr., St. Louis, MO 63110
Originally constructed as the Palace of Fine Arts for the 1904 World's Fair, the Saint Louis Art Museum's elegant stone exterior has and always will bear the motto “Dedicated to Art and Free to All.”
Jewel Box
Forest Park, St. Louis, MO 63110
Commune with the blossoms at an Art Deco floral conservatory with hundreds of flowers.
Saint Louis Zoo
1 Government Dr., St. Louis, MO 63110
The St. Louis Zoo is located within Forest Park, and free to the public.
The Loop/University City
6504 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63130
Located in the heart of the St. Louis metropolitan area, this restaurant, shopping, arts & entertainment district is 20 minutes from Lambert International Airport, five minutes from Clayton and within walking distance of Washington University. The Loop is centrally located with easy access to highways 40 (I-64), I-170, I-70, I-44, and the Delmar Loop MetroLink Station.
The area's diverse selection of specialty shops, award-winning restaurants, and the St. Louis Walk of Fame attracts people of all ages. A major portion of the area is designated as a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. The Loop has large, well-lighted parking lots, a parking garage with a uniformed attendant and plentiful street parking.
Call 314-727-8000 for a free copy of The Loop Brochure.
Blueberry Hill
6504 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63130
This St. Louis landmark serves up award-winning burgers from the grill and great live music.
The Pageant
6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63112
A concert nightclub with an excellent sound system and great sightlines.
Tenderloin Room
232 N. Kingshighway Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108
Dine on steak, fresh fish, calf's liver and many other choices for lunch or dinner.
Duff's
392 N. Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63108
Fine dining in a casual atmosphere with an eclectic menu that changes seasonally. A local favorite for Sunday brunch, reservations are needed if you want to treat yourself to Duff’s beef-tip, mushroom, onion, and Swiss omelet (essentially a Philly cheesesteak in omelet form) or their eggs Benedict with a Creole kick.
Jazz at the Bistro
3536 Washington Ave., St. Louis, MO 63103
Enjoy an up-close and personal jazz experience in the sophisticated atmosphere of this club, where the hottest rising stars, Grammy winners, and legends can all be found.
