Describe St. Louis in 3 words.
Undervalued, neighborhoods and proud.
If you're not eating a Gioia's sandwich, you're probably eating...
#121 From Mai Lee or the cumin lamb from Cate Zone.
What's a perfect day in St. Louis like for you?
Start the day with 2 laps around Francis Park followed by a quick visit to Comet Coffee—espresso for me and a croissant and blueberry muffins for my wife and kids. Then we take the kids to the zoo (everything is free before 9am). Carl’s Drive In for lunch. Kids nap, I walk up to Digregorio's and pick up some fresh pasta, salsiccia and Marconi table bread, then to Missouri Bakery for a cannoli or six. Kids wake up from nap, we take them to one of the hundred free kid friendly festivals St. Louis City has to offer until they are completely worn out. Come home, I make pasta while the kids play. We eat as a family, put the kids to bed and Amanda and I finish a bottle of wine and I smoke a cigar on our front porch. In bed by 9pm.
You've got an army of small children; what are some kind friendly restaurants you take them to?
Easy! Grace Meat and Three, Anthinino's, Union Loafers, Rise Coffee Shop, Felix's Pizza and Mai Lee...our kids love Mai Lee.
What are your favorite attractions/places to take your kids to amuse them and tire them out?
We could spend a whole day at the Science Center. They have a discovery room that is limited and completely closed in. It's the perfect place to let your kids run free while you can check out.
The Zoo, but we only do one part every time we go (we go a lot). Get a bag of popcorn, and when the popcorn is gone it's time to leave. Get there early—the animals are always frisky in the morning.
Botanical Gardens is free on Saturday Morning for city residents. They have an outdoor area that is amazing and a water pad that the kids love. After the kids play area, its nice to walk around the actual gardens and show the kids how beautiful and tranquil the city can be.
History Museum has an amazing kids area that is also free, it's an hour or two of fun for the kids. I normally make them walk through the history exhibits with me too.
Since we are city people we spend A LOT of time running around the many amazing parks....Tower Grove, Francis and Berra Park all have great play sets. City kids need places where they can just RUN and not have to worry about cars or asphalt.
What's an annual event in St. Louis you can't miss?
The Balloon glow has always been a staple in my family. There is something t so classic and so St. Louis about the event.
Grub and Groove in Francis Park. It’s the South City kid Friendly Woodstock. Imagine a square half mile filled with everyone you know. It’s awesome.
If you could go to any other city right now, where would you?
New Orleans. Full of good food, grit and a whole lot of soul. It’s the best.
You've got friends in town. Where do you take them to show off STL? Attractions, restaurants, etc. Whatever you want to talk about.
We always walk them around The Hill midday so they can see how bustling it is and introduce them to all the amazing business owners that make The Hill so special. Every block of The Hill has a fun story that gives out of towners a sense of our lives.
Friends with kids: I take them to Tower Grove neighborhood. Hit the farmers market, Ices Plain & Fancy, and then lunch at Loafers. Maybe O'Connell's or Favazza's for dinner.
If I am with foodies: dDrinks at Sasha's on Demun, dinner at Louie and dessert a Cyranos in Webster.
Friends that are not city people: I will take for cocktails at Taste, dinner at Brasserie and then back to Taste for more cocktails.
Beer drinking buddies: We start at 4 Hands and head west on Manchester to UCBC (The Grove), Modern, 2nd Shift and Schlafly. But I ALWAYS end at Civil Life because Civil Life feels like home.
Really, really good friends: we walk up to Milos, drink Michelob Golden Light on draft, eat fried mushrooms and talk about how skinny we used to be.
