The glories of St. Louis

St. Louis is kind of the Pomona of the Midwest: once great, now living in reduced circumstances, but still pretty cool. (They both have Fox theaters, although St. Louis’ Fox is three times larger.) I was visiting my parents near there last week. A few highlights:

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The Laumeier Sculpture Park features 105 acres of parkland with nature trails and sculptures. Admission and parking: free. This, um, eyecatching piece was a favorite. “Do Not Touch Sculpture”? Well, you’re not supposed to touch your eyes anyway.

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This picturesque used bookstore, the Book House, is in an 1865 house. Ted Drewes’ frozen custard is a local tradition and a must-stop on Route 66.

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The St. Louis Art Museum, in sprawling, 1,300-acre Forest Park, is just one of the cultural attractions in the city that’s absolutely free; it’s in this grand 1904 World’s Fair building. (The crane in the background hints at the major expansion under way.)

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And the city’s new Busch Stadium downtown, opened in 2006, has a nice open feeling. That’s the Gateway Arch in the background, obviously. The Cards beat the Brewers 8-0 that night, followed by a free fireworks show. No, the game itself wasn’t free. There’s a limit to even St. Louis’ generosity.

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