Take advantage of the culture waiting just up the street in
Grand Center. The musicians of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
gather at Powell Symphony Hall (718 N. Grand, 534-1700) to
showcase their abilities.
The Symphony plays the best classical music to large audiences
in the spacious hall from Sept. to May. Students receive a 50
percent discount on $29, $39, $59 and $70 on the orchestral pops
and chamber shows.
The box office also offers a student six pack of concert tickets
for $49. The tickets can be used for one show or six different
shows. A student ID must be presented in order to receive student
deals. The most popular shows are on Friday and Saturday
nights.
Just down the street from Powell Hall is the Fabulous Fox
Theatre (527 N. Grand, 534-1111). Host to Broadway shows,
concerts and all things entertaining, the Fox is ritzy yet
accessible, as reasonably priced tickets are usually available for
even the most in-demand shows.
Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries (3648 Washington,
533-9900) stands behind the Fox Theater. The Sheldon has the best
acoustics in the state. The venue hosts blues, jazz and folk
singers, classical chamber groups and vocalists and benefits for
charity. The art galleries host rotating exhibits featuring St.
Louis artists, jazz history, photography and children’s art. The
galleries are open Tuesday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Black Repertory Theater (3610 Grandel, 534-3807)
performs at the Grandel Square Theater, which is a converted
church. The Black Rep is the largest black performing arts company
in Missouri.
Looking for a small place to catch a drink and relax to smooth
live jazz? Jazz at the Bistro (3536 Washington, 531-1012) is
the place you want to go. Nestled just off Grand across from the
Fox, Jazz at the Bistro is a great place to listen to some of the
best jazz musicians in the area.
The Bistro offers student tickets for $10 the night of the show
with a student ID. Tickets for the second set can be reserved in
advance, but tickets for the first set are only available 10
minutes before the show.
While finding a theater isn’t that hard in Midtown, finding a
restaurant is. But the quality of the restaurants is what is
important, not the quantity.
Gary’s (601 N. Grand, 531-0111) is a popular place among
couples to go to before the shows start on Friday and Saturday
nights. It’s a great place for a romantic evening. Don’t walk out
the door in jeans and a T-shirt when you go to Gary’s. Everything
about this place is classy, so dress up.
Porterhouses, sirloins, steakburgers, chicken and gyros–Mmmmm.
All of these items can be found at The Best Steak House (516
N. Grand, 535-6033), where beef is king. The place may remind you
of a cafeteria, but the food is much, much better; and cheap. You
can get a sirloin steak, baked potato, salad and a piece of Texas
toast for about $10.
The cooks are the best in the business, and everything is
grilled right in front of you. Dress is casual. Oh, and one little
detail you should know: As soon as you walk in the door, find the
menu board above the counter and think about what you want. You’ll
be in for a surprise if you’re not ready.
If you’re in the mood for eating healthy, take a stroll to
Crazy Bowls and Wraps (3852 Lindell, 533-9727) where the
name speaks the truth. Order either a bowl (rice usually topped
with your choice of meats or vegetables or a combination of both)
or a wrap (basically the same ingredients as the bowl, except
served in a soft tortilla) and a few sides, and you’re set for a
hearty meal close to campus.
Del Taco (212 S. Grand, 534-1424) is everyone’s favorite
place for a late-night snack. Home of the 39-cent taco, Del Taco is
a fast-food restaurant that serves Mexican and American food.
Tacos, burritos, quesadillas, burgers, fries and shakes dot the
menu. The lobby is open from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. The drive-thru is
open 24 hours. If you’re heading over to Del Taco around 3 a.m.,
expect a long line at the drive-thru.
Vito’s (3559 Lindell, 534-8486) is a family-owned
pizzeria that provides SLU students with the best pizza in the
area. Delivery is available, but we recommend dining in.
You can sit at a table in the restaurant area and chat with
friends over a thick-crust pie, or you can sit in the bar area and
catch a ballgame on television or listen to Frank Sinatra on the
jukebox. Either way, you can’t go wrong at Vito’s.
If you are feeling the pangs in your stomach that only a potent
spirit will cure, Midtown is blessed with two great bars.
Humphrey’s (3700 Laclede, 535-0700) is the most-recognized
of SLU bars. “Humphs,” as it is known among SLU students, has been
quenching the thirst of patrons since 1976. The bar has a SLU feel
to it, as numerous pictures of SLU sports teams adorn the brick
walls.
Sporting events are always on the television. Food is served
throughout the day, with burgers being the specialty. Humphrey’s is
just a great place to sit around with friends and have a good time
over a couple of brews.
531-1600) has one of the best Happy Hours in town. From 3 p.m. to 7
p.m. daily, “Laclede’s” offers two-for-one drink specials and
appetizer specials. Laclede Street has a spacious bar with a dance
floor and plenty of games, such as bubble hockey, darts and
pinball. If dancing is up your alley, Laclede Street is the place
to go. The bar is especially packed after midnight, so you’re bound
to run into a classmate or an old friend.
If you’re looking for on-campus entertainment, try one of the
several museums, including the Saint Louis University Museum of
Art (3663 Lindell Blvd., 977-3399). This is SLU’s newest
museum, a four-floor delight for the eyes. The collection includes
paintings and sculptures, scattered throughout the rooms of the
beautiful old building.
Another museum on-campus is the Museum Of Contemporary
Religious Art (in Fusz Hall, 977-7170).
This museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Its
display of Andy Warhol’s Silver Clouds exhibit will continue until
Oct. 31. The museum is nationally recognized for it’s collection
of–what else?–religious art.
This year, the Saint Louis University Theatre (in Xavier
Hall, 977-2998) offers performances of Crimes of the Heart, The
Heiress, Nunsense and God’s Country.
If you decide to go, you might see a classmate acting out a lead
role.
