st. louis

Us at GroveFest standing amid floating marshmallows. Fun!

As you've probably heard, St. Louis is an interesting city. 

I remember many years ago when it was cool to hate St. Louis. Everyone wanted to "get out and move some place cool" or "move to a real city". I visited Chicago many times during this period and fell in love. I was convinced I would move to Chicago at some point in my 20's. That never happened.

After moving around from neighborhood to neighborhood (West County to Central West End to Downtown to St. Charles) I suddenly realized that I loved this city. 

I can personally vouch for each individual neighborhood I've lived in and say they truly have their own independent vibe. 

West County: suburbia central, plethora of private schools, beautifully groomed parks, Starbucks on every major road, a horse ranch every now and again, and the place to settle down and raise a family if you're doing pretty good for yourself (financially speaking). 

Central West End (my personal favorite): walking distance from the famous Forest Park, million dollar homes with stunning architecture, med school student overload, coffee shops that are open 24-hours, and hands-down the best selection of restaurants you'll find in the entire city. 

Downtown: home to some of the largest corporations in the world, numerous craft breweries, a short stroll from Busch Stadium, modern art city garden, and more lofts than you could ever dream of. 

St. Charles: my current home. My present love which is ever growing. St. Charles is sprawling with thousands of beautiful, historic homes with transom windows and original woodwork. Main Street has a long, cobbled brick road with unique shops and restaurants nestled along both sides. It's the home to a major school, Lindenwood University, which looks like a modern-day construction of WashU. 

Events like Taste of St. Louis, GroveFest, Forest Park Balloon Glow, LouFest, Purina's Canine Carnival, and others provide opportunities to get out into different parts of this city and explore new areas, meet new people, and try new things. There's a healthy mix of corporate and local--a Starbucks within a 5 minute drive of wherever you are for the more traditional taste, yet a local variety including spots like Rise Coffeehouse for those looking for a unique, personal approach to caffeine (I take coffee seriously). 

The best part about St. Louis is when you go home and get your mail. You step outside and see your neighbors in their yards playing with their kids and greeting you as you too get settled in from a long day. This is what I love about St. Charles in particular. 

You open your windows, let the evening breeze blow through and breathe life into your home as you take off your shoes and collapse onto your sofa. You smile as a constant stream of neighbors and students pass by your sidewalk on their way to class or back home from walking their dogs. 

St. Charles is the first time I've felt "at home" in a very long time. And let's be honest, everyone loves home.