Christine Brewer's St. Louis

Author: Beth Custer

The city hits a high note with a world-famous soprano.

Editor's Note: Acclaimed opera singer Christine Brewer thrills audiences around the world with her dazzling soprano voice. The Grammy Award winner's repertoire includes classic roles like Isolde and Brünnhilde, as well as performances with the world's leading orchestras. A native of the St. Louis area, Ms. Brewer began her operatic career with Opera Theatre of St. Louis; one of her earliest recordings is entitled St. Louis Woman. In other words, she's spent a lot of time here, and knows her way around our excellent restaurants and attractions. During a short respite between performances in Vancouver and Berlin, Ms. Brewer spoke with Concierge Preferred about the places she most enjoys when she's at home.

I always enjoy coming back to St. Louis and visiting my favorite places. There are so many interesting, unique things to do, I'm not really sure you could see them all in one day - but these are some favorite places that my husband and I love.

9:00 a.m.

For breakfast, I love Café Dolce Fare Niente, which is between Lebanon and O'Fallon, Illinois. The atmosphere is very comfortable, with wonderful leather sofas and chairs, and coffee tables and chess tables. My husband and I order delicious omelettes and play chess while we are there.

10:00 a.m.

After breakfast, we always take our out-of-town guests to see Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, where the remains of a prehistoric native civilization are preserved. It has a wonderful museum with a replica of a pre-Columbian city, and there are great opportunities to hike the grounds, as well. I also suggest a trip to Alton, Illinois, to see The National Great Rivers Museum, and the Melviin Price Locks and Dam. The museum has all kinds of interesting facts about the Mississippi River, and you can take a tour of the locks and dam. If you go there in January, you'll see eagles around the dam, hunting for fish in the river. We also take our guests to the Arch and Museum of Westward Expansion, and that is always a big hit!

Noon

Lunch would definitely be at Adriana's on The Hill. My best friends and I have considered this our favorite lunch spot for years. It is only open for lunch, and there are several sandwhiches, all named after Adriana's grandchildren. My favorite sandwhich is the Teresa, which is turkey, bacon, and melted cheese - delicious! I also love the soups - there is a great new one every day.

1:00 p.m.

Missouri Botanical Garden is near Adriana's, so that would be a good stopping place to walk off lunch. It is beautiful any time of the year. Other favorite spots where we like to take out-of-town guests are the City Museum, the Missouri History Museum, which is also a favorite Sunday brunch spot, and the St. Louis Art Musem.

3:00 p.m.

I love to wander around the Central West End. I've always loved Left Bank Books and the great antique shops in that neighborhood. There are also some wonderful shops in Lebanon, Illinois, about 20 minutes east of downtown St. Louis. My favorites are Cross-Eyed Elephant Antiques, where they have some great vintage costume jewelry that I love, Town 'N Country Shop, and the British Grocery Shop, which carries things like English Scones and Cornish pastries.

6:00 p.m.

For dinner, I lvoe the atmosphere at Savor. It is warm and colorful and the food is delicious! If I were at home in Lebanon, I might go to Dr. Jazz, an old soda fountain and restaurant. It's an old soda fountain from over 40 years ago which has been renovated to its original glory. They still use the same equipment, and it's fun to see kids from McKendree College or the local high school sitting on stools at the bar getting sundaes and shakes. The burgers are also great, but the ice cream is outstanding! They play old jazz on the stereo, so it really has a feel of the good old days.

7:30 p.m.

After dinner, in the summer, my husband and I like to go to Gateway Grizzlies baseball games. They play at GMC Stadium, just across the river from the Arch. It's a fun minor league ballpark where the tickets and the concessions are inexpensive, and there is a great family feel at the park. There are always fun things for children to do. Of course during June, we love to go to the Opera Theatre of St. Louis in Webster Groves! There isn't a bad seat in the intimate theatre, and we always love to take a picnic and have dinner on the lawn before the performances. The St. Louis Symphony is another wonderful option for a fun evening on the town. We are so frotunate to have David Robertson leading the orchestra, and his programs are always so interesting and beautiful!

Cahokia Mounds
30 Ramey St., Collinsville, IL 62234

The mounds were part of a pre-Columbian city - the largest situated north of Mexico. Stand atop Monk's Mound and tour an indoor replica of the ancient city.

National Great Rivers Museum
#2 Lock and Dam Way, Alton, IL 62002

A museum dedicated to the St. Louis area's major rivers.

Gateway Arch
707 N. First St., St. Louis, MO 63102

Since 1965, when construction workers placed the final piece of steel at the apex of the Gateway Arch, over 25 million sightseers have journeyed to its top. Also known as the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, the Arch stands as the 630-foot tall gatekeeper to the Midwest, making it the tallest national monument in the U.S. , and the 4 th most-visited tourist attraction in the world. Its juxtaposition between the Mississippi River and the historical city of St. Louis provides sightseers with much more than a bit of vertigo at journey's end. Whether you pop into a museum, patronize one of the unique eateries at river's edge, or indulge in souvenirs, a visit to the Gateway Arch grounds offers anyone and everyone a memorable experience and a bit of American history.

Missouri Botanical Garden
4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63110

Since first opening in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Garden has acquired contributions from artists, architects, and scientists. Now, secluded oases and photo-ops abound within its 79 acres of natural and architectural splendor. Whether visitors come to brush up on their gardening techniques or simply indulge in personal reflection, the Botanical Garden – also known as Shaw's Garden, after its founder – offers a refreshing natural refuge in the midst of the city.

City Museum
701 N 15th St., St Louis, MO 63103

The City Museum is a zany, fun-filled place where imagination and surprises know no bounds, and inspiration blossoms where inner child and inner artist meet. Baffling architectural attractions are made of salvaged materials—including old chimneys, pieces of bridges, and construction cranes—that were gathered from all over St. Louis. This fun and funky museum invites visitors to explore caves, walk through a life-size whale, be in a circus, zoom down a 3-story slide, or climb through giant slinkies.

Missouri History Museum
5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63112

The Missouri History Museum is a thorough look at St. Louis history and culture, from the time it was just a village up until its present day glory.

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.”

Left Bank Books
399 N. Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108

Independent bookstore known for its poetry and contemporary fiction inventory.

Savor
4356 Lindell, St. Louis, MO 63108

Tasteful cuisine from around the world in a grand mansion that has been restored.

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
718 N. Grand, St. Louis, MO 63103

This world-renowned orchestra performs in the elegant Powell Symphony Hall.

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