Why go downtown in St. Louis when there's a more fun parade right in Cottleville?…read more This parade had grown, and grown, and grown! Bring a tent the night before and set up on Route N. This is a hug party!

Too many people in a very tight space. Add public drunkenness and impossible parking to the mix and…read morethat pretty well describes the Cottleville St Patrick's Day Parade. This is the parade for people that are too lazy to drive to downtown to see a legit parade. At two stars I'm being pretty generous. The parade itself is weak and there aren't enough bars or restaurants to make this the place to go on St Patty's day. You owe it to yourself to do better.

"Flora Field" by Van Dyck Murphy Studio is a digitally fabricated terracotta screen wall that…read morereinterprets architectural ornament using sustainable materials and modern technology. Installed in the shadow of the pioneering Wainwright Building, the piece pays tribute to the building's original terra cotta detailing while introducing a contemporary approach. Designed by Kelley Van Dyck Murphy and Jonathan Murphy, the artwork consists of nearly 200 clay units, each 3D printed and assembled into a ten-by-ten-foot screen supported by a custom steel frame and concrete base. The name "Flora Field" draws from the building's decorative motifs, including hops flowers that reference the original owner's brewing business. The term "field" refers to a network of related components in architecture, and the piece resembles a dynamic grid of floral forms, each subtly distinct yet part of a unified whole. What makes this installation especially compelling is its material innovation. Instead of using plastic filament, the artists employed locally sourced clay, merging ancient craft with digital fabrication. The clay is extruded layer by layer using a 3D printer, guided by slicing software that translates the design into precise instructions. [Review 1172 of 2025 - 438 in Missouri - 24725 overall]

The Freedom Suits Memorial in St. Louis pays tribute to the hundreds of enslaved Missourians who…read morefought for their freedom through the courts. Between 1803 and 1863, nearly 400 individuals filed lawsuits based on the principle "Once free, always free." If taken to a free state or territory, even briefly, they could argue for their emancipation upon returning to Missouri. Saint Louis became a key battleground for these cases, thanks to anti-slavery lawyers who worked pro bono to challenge slavery through legal channels. Their efforts freed many, including Dred and Harriet Scott, whose case was later overturned in the 1857 Supreme Court decision that denied citizenship to Black Americans and inflamed tensions leading to the Civil War. Unveiled in 2022 outside the Civil Courts Building, the memorial features a 14-foot bronze sculpture by Preston Jackson. It stands on black granite and bears the names of 330 freedom suit plaintiffs. The piece is part of a $1 million initiative that includes a bronze plaque and an online educational platform. The memorial was inspired by court workers who rediscovered old case files in 2006. Judge David Mason formed a committee to honor this legacy, and in 2025, the site was added to the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. More than a sculpture, it stands as a civic symbol of justice, resilience, and the fight for human dignity. [Review 1175 of 2025 - 441 in Missouri - 24728 overall]

My eye was drawn to this sculpture. The woman appears to be walking quite swiftly down the street…read morewith purpose in her eyes and pose. However, she's forever in this walking stance and not getting anywhere. It's a lovely sculpture and Saint Louis has done well to include it with their public art. The caption in the sidewalk reads, "Donald Baechler. Walking Figure. (2003-2004). Bronze. Edition 1 of 3. On Loan From Gateway Foundation." Online, "Walking Figure poses motionless in front of the Gateway Foundation building, stuck forever in walking stance but never gaining any ground. The sprightly form reminds the viewer of a child's drawing of a human, with the arms and legs sticking out awkwardly from a square-like torso. The childish face of the figure grins shyly but contentedly with closed eyes as it towers above the heads of passersby, striding purposefully toward some unknown end. The surface texture of the bronze is strongly textured, inviting the viewer to interact and touch the rough surface of the piece." [Review 14462 overall, 1788 of 2020, number 94 in Missouri.]

Dave was readily available and more than willing to help us honor our parents with a dedication…read moreceremony at their gravesite. The beautiful melodies provided by Dave Gallagher was a welcome surprise and sentiment by our family. Thank you, Dave, for helping me provide this gift for my Irish family!

St Louis is maybe the Arch, Cardinals and Blues, but so much more…read more Forest park with the zoo, science center, turtle park, telescope, golf course and walking trails is packed with adventure. In fact the whole St. Louis area is over run with free parks. (Not as interconnected as St. Charles County parks) The food can't be passed up. Pork steak (grilled and slathered in sauce an grilled again cooking in StL sweet BBQ) St Paul Sandwich (fried egg foo young patty on two slices of white bread some with vegetables or meats) Slinger (StL tradition with eggs, hash browns, and hamburger patty all covered with chili then onions and cheese) Thin crust pizza... as an appetizer if not used to it Toasted Ravioli (Deep fried and served with Marinara sauce) Gooey Butter Cake- far richer than you can imagine Frozen custard is decadence in what looks like soft serve ice cream, but much richer Jump in an don't count calories! Burn it off seeing parks, zoo, museums or other arts. Enjoy StL.

Best baseball team in MLB. Go Cardinals! Beautiful buildings downtown. I grew up in this area and…read morestill enjoy all the architecture and the beauty of the arch. Lots of stores and fine dining. Awesome bars/pubs. Worst part of St. Louis is the present day crime and the loss of jobs. We moved away after a plant closing and scarce employment opportunities. As a result, crime has escalated. It doesn't help the amount of people there feeding off the system and then causing turmoil in the streets. A real shame for the city.

I really enjoy the Hibernian parade and Dogtown event every year. It's a hokie, noncommercial…read moreparade and street party. This event is a shot in the arm for this areas uniquely neighborhood-esque business district. The residents have parties, picnics, etc. the restaurants have tents, beer gardens, music, and food. The local church has Irish dancing performances and the weather tends to cooperate most years. A good time is had by all. I tend to spend the first half of the day on or around Tamm (the parade route, restaurants, bars, and house parties). As the crowd gets younger, denser, and a wee bit drunk around the Clayton/Tamm corridor, I generally hike it with my group to lower Dogtown, where the restaurants have outdoor seating, live music, ample potties, etc. Since the Dogtown event falls on St. Patrick's Day and rarely falls on the weekend, there is some level of crowd control, which I like. It's still crowded, with lots of heavy drinking. SO, I do have to ask some of the folks with young kids WHY they hang around for hours after the parade is over. Once it becomes a big party, it is time to take the kiddos home. Seriously!!

For those of you looking for an official parade with floats and pageantry, the Dogtown St…read more Patrick's Day Parade is not it! But if you are looking for authentic, local Irish revelry, then this is for you! Always held on March 17, no matter what day of the week it falls on or what kind of weather we're experiencing, this parade consists mostly of flatbed pickup trucks, fire engines and groups of pedestrians. There are also some adorable little Irish dancer girls, Irish wolfhounds and bagpipe players spread out throughout the parade as well. One thing you will notice right away is that everyone in the parade and those attending the parade are either related, neighbors or send their kids to the same school. Normally this kind of small town mentality freaks me out, but once a year it comes across relatively quaint. If you are going to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Dogtown, be sure to get there early, find a good spot in front (so you can catch good beads), and make sure you have a DD to pick you up!

This bronze sculpture is the work of controversial artist Tom Otterness, who created it in 2007. It…read moreis property of the Gateway Foundation and is currently displayed in the Grove District. Otterness came under fire after killing a dog that he adopted. This sculpture is in Otterness's trademark style of faceless characters with round body parts. This character happens to be a mouse, as the name implies. It really does resemble a mouse sitting on its rump, with its head cocked to the left. The sculpture is in great shape and has lights that shine on it at night. There is metered street parking available within a reasonable walking distance for those wishing to park and take a closer look. As with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 15 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.