Edition: Great Outdoors

Jenna Fischer's St. Louis

Author: Beth M. Custer

Editor's Note: St. Louis native Jenna Fischer plays the role of sweet but put-upon Pam Beesly on NBC's hit comedy The Office.  As an employee in the banal working environment of a paper supple company, her character tolerates awkward attempts at humor from her blundering boss.  Hilarious interactions between the two, plus the romantic tension of a potential love triangle between Pam, her fiancée, and a cute office mate, keep viewers tuning in every week.  A TV veteran, Fischer has many roles to her credit, including stints on That '70s Show, What I Like About You, and Six Feet Under, and in 2005 she received the Screen Actor's Guild Emerging Actor Award.  Fischer is married to another native St. Louisan, screenwriter and director James Gunn.  Both their families live here, and the couple returns to the area when their work schedules allow.  Speaking from the set of The Office, Fischer described how she would spend a perfect day in St. Louis.  

I love to come back to St. Louis to visit my family and friends.  There are so many great places to hang out, and so much to do, I hardly ever have time to squeeze it all in.  But if I were going to spend a really fun day in St. Louis, here is what I would do:  

8:00 a.m.

For a really perfect breakfast, I'd stay home and eat with my family.  But if we wanted to go out, I'd pick one of the great brunch places in St. Louis, like Meriwether's (Forest Park, 314-746-4599) in the Missouri History Museum.  

9:00 a.m.

I really love to walk around and look in the little shops in Kirkwood and Webster Groves.  These are picturesque, old neighborhoods that still have a small town feel to them.  I'd take a liesurely stroll and browse in all the cute boutiques.

11:00 a.m.

My husband, James Gunn, and I love to visit the Saint Louis Zoo (Forest Park, 314-781-0900) when we're home.  The zoo is amazing, and it's free!  For my husband's birthday, my parents "adopted" two chimpanzees for him through the Saint Louis Zoo Parents Program.  Their names are Jimiyu and Bakhari, and we like to visit them any time we're home.  While we're in Forest Park, I like to visit the lagoon and fountains too.  That area has all been redone recently, and it looks just so beautiful.  You can rent a paddle boat and paddle around, then have something to eat at the Boathouse (6101 Government Dr., 314-367-2224).   

1:00 p.m.

The restaurant I'd choose for lunch depends on who I'm with.  The Sappington House (1015 S. Sappington Rd., 314-822-8171) is a great place for ladies.  It's a historic home from the early 1800s, furnished with antiques from that period.  They serve an excellent lunch, and I would go there with the girls for tea, sandwiches, and quiche.  My mom and I like the Dream House & Tea Room (15425 Clayton Rd., 636-227-7640).  They have a cute little shop in the front with pretty, girly things like fine china cups and saucers.  We bought my wedding cake at a wonderful bakery called Party Pastry (15447 Clayton Rd., 636-227-7188).  It's fun to go there for a cookie or cupcake.  If you're visiting, you should really try their Gooey Butter Cake - it's a St. Louis specialty.  

2:00 p.m.

After lunch my mom and I might head to West County for some shopping.  One of our favorite boutiques is Forever Green (15451 Clayton Rd., 636-256-3234), where they have all sorts of silk flowers and trees and arrangements for your home.  Another favorite is Floribunda, Inc. (14847 Clayton RD., 636-256-6969), for their selection of home accessories, stationery, and jewelry.  

4:00 p.m.

The Central West End is a really artistic, fun area to stroll around.  There are lots of shops to explore and lots of little coffee houses you can pop into.  The Loop is another great place to visit - I especially love going to movies at the Tivoli (6350 Delmar, 314-995-6270), where they often show independent and foreign films.  

7:00 p.m. 

For dinner I love the steak at Citizen Kane's (133 W. Clinton Place, 314-965-9005).  I went there recently for my sister's graduation, and I'm still thining about their filet mignon...It's the best I've ever had!  They're known for their cuts of meat, and I can see why.  I bought a gift certificate for my sister there, and she and her husband loved it too.  

8:00 p.m.

After dinner, I'd suggest a show at the Repertory Theatre (130 Edgar Rd., 314-968-4925).  They do magnificent stuff, so I would highly recommend taking in a play or musical there.  

11:00 p.m. 

For a late night snack in St. Louis, I think there are two options.  The one I would choose is an Imo's pizza (multiple locations).  I can't leave St. Louis without eating an Imo's pizza - it's a joke in my family, everyone knows I have to get one before I leave.  The other option is to go to White Castle (multiple locations).  We don't have that in L.A.  Then you should top it off with a trip to Ted Drewes (6762 Chippewa, 314-481-2652, and 4224 S. Grand, 314-352-7376) for their famous frozen custard "concrete."  And if you can find time to have toasted ravioli, that's a St. Louis tradition too.  These are all great St. Louis traditions that you don't find anywhere else.  

Missouri History Museum: Meriwether's
History Museum, St. Louis, MO 63110

Saint Louis Zoo
1 Government Dr., St. Louis, MO 63110

Boathouse Cafe
6101 Government Drive, St. Louis, MO 63110

The Loop/University City
6504 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63130

Citizen Kane's Steak House
133 West Clinton Place , St. Louis, MO 63122

Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
130 Edgar Rd., St. Louis, MO 63119

Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
3610 Grandel Square, St. Louis, MO 63108

Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
6726 Chippewa Street, St. Louis, MO 63109