photo by Joe Harrison
Some will argue that Downtown West is more “Downtown” than Downtown, and they definitely have some good reasons why that may be, including that it is one of the fastest growing neighborhoods in St. Louis. In fact, a lot has changed since even our last Flood here (91 Floods ago!), including the addition of CityPark–the city’s first professional soccer stadium and the anchor of a 30-acre development area catering to fans of St. Louis City Soccer Club.
photo by Jennifer Sarti
photo by Dennis Daugherty
photo by Jennifer Sarti
photo by Jennifer Sarti
photo by Joe Harrison
If you’ve been to some other major metropolitan centers around the country, like St. Louis’ perennial rival, Chicago, our fair city’s downtown area can often seem sleepy by comparison. With this in mind, we scheduled our return to Downtown West during a home game for City SC to prove that we know how to party, too. After all, this is a team whose fans are known to wear toasted ravioli hats to games (among other things). Don’t believe me? Check out one of the official gameday chants below.
St. Louis Is Wonderful (Tune: When the Saints Go Marching In)
Oh St. Louis (Oh St. Louis)
Is wonderful (Is wonderful)
Oh St. Louis is wonderful
It’s the home of the toasted ravioli
Oh St. Louis is wonderful
photo by Dennis Daugherty
photo by Joe Harrison
photo by Jennifer Sarti
photo by Dennis Daugherty
photo by Joe Harrison
photo by Joe Harrison
St. Louligans-aside, there is a lot to see and do in this neck of the woods, much of which is representative of the city’s era of peak prominence. Union Station, once the world’s busiest passenger terminal, includes a gorgeous main building designed by Theodore Link, along with the adjoining “train shed”. It is a site that has long been a part of the city’s vision for revitalization. In the 1980’s, it reopened as a hotel and shopping mall, but the most recent reimagining appears most promising. Along with the hotel, St. Louis Union Station now houses an aquarium, rope course, soda fountain and 200-foot tall ferris wheel, giving the location a family-friendly, carnivalesque appeal. Nearby, the City Museum continues its 25+ year legacy as the country’s epicenter for a unique brand of quirky amazement. Opened in the former International Shoe Company factory, the museum features a 10-story slide, an indoor “cave” system, a rooftop giant praying mantis, and so much more.
photo by Dennis Daugherty
photo by Jennifer Sarti
photo by Jennifer Sarti
photo by Jennifer Sarti
In a city of neighborhoods, like St. Louis, the question of “downtown” is perhaps best left unanswered (except for the official designation). After all, if a downtown is a city’s vibrant gathering place, there are lots of places we gather in STL, and if it is the location that we show off to the world, there are a lot of places here suitable for that as well. That said, if one neighborhood were to make a case for itself as the heart of St. Louis, it might as well be Downtown West. And if you haven’t been in a while, prepare to be surprised (and entertained).
photo by Joe Harrison
photo by Jennifer Sarti
photo by Jennifer Sarti
photo by Dennis Daugherty
