Edition: Architectural Delights
Celebrity Concierge ...Jeremy Davenport
Author: Beth M. Custer
Jazz crooner and trumpet player extraordinaire Jeremy Davenport is a native St. Louisan who visits his hometown regularly. Although he spends much of his time now in another Mississippi River town - New Orleans - he grew up here with his mother, a music teacher, and his father, a trombonist with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.
I'd like to spend more time in St. Louis.
There's just so much to see and do, I never seem to have enough time to get to everything. I grew up in University City, and sometimes I don't even leave that area when I'm in town. It's dear to me; it's a great little town, and I like it a lot. Ive been all over the world, to dozens of interesting cities, but the restaurants and museums in St. Louis are some of the nicest. When I'm in town, I try to visit as many of my favorite places as I can.
9:00 a.m.
I usually stay at the Ritz-Carlton when I'm in St. Louis, and breakfast in The Restaurant (100 Carondelet Ave., 314-863-6300, M8;E3) is pretty serious. They have the best Eggs Benedict, and a luxurious Sunday brunch. If I'm in the mood for something quick, I might walk down to the Starbucks on Wydown (7645 Wydown, 314-725-8527, M8;F3).
10:00 a.m.
I've been all over the world, but the St. Louis Zoo (Forest Park, 314-781-0900, M4;B3) is still the greatest. No other zoos around the world even come close, and I've seen many different ones, in many cities around the world.
11:00 a.m.
Sometimes I perform for the school where my Mom works as a music teacher. I play for the students in kindergarten through 6th grade, and they love it. I'm from a musical family - my Dad plays trombone for the St. Louis Symphony (718 N. Grand, 314-534-1700, M4;B6). It's a world-class group, and I love to go to their performances.
12:00 p.m.
For lunch, it's Steak 'N Shake! (See your concierge for locations) It's one of the big things I miss about being in St. Louis. Even though I live in two great restaurant towns, New Orleans and New York, I still miss the classic Steak 'N Shake experience. In fact, it's the first place I stop when I come into town. The plane lands at Lambert, I think to myself, "I need some chili!" and I head straight there. Two of my other favorites for lunch are Blueberry Hill (6504 Delmar, 314-727-0880, M4;A3) - I always eat there at least once when I'm in town - and Cardwell's at the Plaza (94 Plaza Frontenac, 314-997-8885, M5;C2). If I'm feeling especially healthy I might go to St. Louis Bread Company (see your concierge for locations) for a turkey sandwich.
1:00 p.m.
After all that eating, I might head to the Fitness Center at the Chase Park Plaza (212 N. Kingshighway, 314-633-3020, M4;B5). It's a huge health club filled with unbelievable, state of the art equipment. They have personal trainers and fitness classes too.
2:00 p.m.
The Saint Louis Art Museum (Forest Park, 314-721-0072, M4;B3) is terrific. I saw an incredible Miles Davis exhibit there once. It was very well done, the caliber of exhibit you would expect to see in London or New York. The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts (3716 Washington Blvd., 314-754-1848, M4;B6) is unbelievable as well - their exhibits are first-rate. The experience you have there is wonderful since they only allow a certain number of people in at one time. That alone makes it a very personal and unique experience.
"I've been all over the world, to dozens of cities, but the restaurants & museums in St. Louis are some of the nicest!" -- Jeremy Davenport
3:00 p.m.
I still find the Arch unbelievably fascinating (Gateway Arch & Museum of Westward Expansion, 314-982-1410, M2;C5). People from here take it for granted, but it's still one of the great monuments of the world. If it's baseball season I'll go to Busch Stadium (250 Stadium Plaza, 314-421-2400, M2;D4) and catch a game. I'm a huge Cardinals fan. Ever since I was really young my Dad took me to lots of games, so the Cardinals will always feel like my hometown team.
5:00 p.m.
Every time I'm home I go to Plaza Frontenac (Lindbergh & Clayton, 314-432-0604, M5;C2). It's the only time I get to shop at Neiman Marcus, where they have nice men's stuff that I really like. I admit to like fashion, even though most men don't. It's fun to go there, now that I can afford it - I couldn't when I was younger.
7:00 p.m.
There are so many great restaurants to choose from for dinner. Riddles Penultimate Cafe & Wine Bar (6307 Delmar Blvd., 314-725-6985, M4;A3) is a really good home cooking kind of joint. House of India (8501 Delmar Blvd., 314-567-6850, M4;A1) has great, great Indian food - I think it's just perfect - and I'm spoiled on restaurants from being in New York and New Orleans! No matter where I travel or what kind of food I eat, I know what I'll be drinking - Budweiser. There's nothing like an ice cold Bud. Now it's cool to drink Bud, but it used to be frowned on, like it wasn't sophisticated. But I would just tell people, "It's made in St. Louis, Missouri; it's what I drink."
8:00 pm.m
I might head to Jazz at the Bistro (3536 Washington Ave., 314-531-1012, M4;B6), a popular jazz club where you can hear both rising stars and jazz legends. It has a sophisticated, intimate atmosphere that allows listeners to experience a personal connection with the performers. The Fox Theatre (527 N. Grand, 314-534-1111, M4;B5) is another great place I would recommend to visitors. They have really good shows of all types, from Broadway musicals to a hug variety of concerts.
