What you love about St Louis (St. Louis, Clayton: new home, high school, universities)

[WI_Kitty]

I'm 30 and no kids, and I'll take any suggestions at this point. We are looking more for a quiet place to set up residence (we've been spoiled with living in a duplex in a nice quiet neighborhood for the past few years) but close enough to St. Louis proper for a possible work commute and fun excursions. We're used to driving 10-30 minutes to get to whatever we're going to (public transportation here is sketchy at best) so suburbs aren't really too far from the action for us.

Honestly I've been basing my choices so far on apartment hunting. We're trying to find someplace that will give us enough room for our stuff and where we won't feel like sardines packed in with all the neighbors... at least until I can save up enough for a down payment on a nice townhouse or something.

[1greatcity]

Your quest for a nice place to live in St Louis, WI_Kitty, allows me to emphasize that the St Louis area is comprised of literally hundreds of interesting neighborhoods. (It's one of the things I LOVE about St Louis!) Most of them are pleasant and quiet, and most are within 30 minutes of just about everywhere (except during rush hour!)
Other than quietude, what other characteristics are you seeking in a neighborhood? And do you have an upper cap on monthly rent amounts?

[CSD610]

The Muny and The Fox............NOTHING else.

[StanleySnail]

Dry, temperate climate.
Young, vibrant, open-minded culture.
Progressive thinking.

I'm from Alabama, BTW.

[WI_Kitty]

Originally Posted by 1greatcity

Your quest for a nice place to live in St Louis, WI_Kitty, allows me to emphasize that the St Louis area is comprised of literally hundreds of interesting neighborhoods. (It's one of the things I LOVE about St Louis!) Most of them are pleasant and quiet, and most are within 30 minutes of just about everywhere (except during rush hour!)
Other than quietude, what other characteristics are you seeking in a neighborhood? And do you have an upper cap on monthly rent amounts?

So many neighborhoods is one of the things we are looking forward to exploring. I've been basing my rent restrictions on the pay scale I should be able to make in Missouri (I'm in IT)... from what I can gather from pay scale sites and such.... and I figure we would like to stay in the $800 - $900/mo area. I have been looking both below and above that since I like to be prepared for whatever happens, but so far that seems to be a safe range. One thing we do like is greenery, so any area that incorporates trees and such would be fabulous. We are going to be coming down for Labor Day weekend to visit my parents in Chesterfield (they recently moved from up here) so we're hoping to be able to do a little scoping out of the area and get a first hand feel for some of the neighborhoods. Really hoping to try St. Louis style pizza with this provel I hear so much about on here.

Any suggestions on places to look at while we're down would be much appreciated. Thankfully we'll have a GPS so we don't get too lost.

[gotigers123]

Originally Posted by StanleySnail

Dry, temperate climate.
Young, vibrant, open-minded culture.
Progressive thinking.

I'm from Alabama, BTW.

You're describing St. Louis?

[1greatcity]

I love that, in the city, when a big-name fast-food restaurant closes, often it becomes a new restaurant serving ethnic cuisine. This is definitely a positive change, as it gives St Louis a wider variety of interesting food choices. Some examples:
The former Long John Silvers on South Kingshighway is now a Vietnamese restaurant and bar called Crystal.
The former Pizza Hut on Hampton at Fyler became an Indian restaurant called Tandoori Hut, and is now Taste of India.
The former Captain D's on Gravois near Bevo Mill is now Langanini Pizzeria.
The former McDonalds on Grand at Chippewa is now a Vietnamese restaurant called Mama Pho.
The former Pizza Hut on Gravois near Bevo Mill is now a Bosnian Restaurant called Bosna Gold.

[BoomBoxing]

That's a good point, 1greatcity, and I've never even really thought about that. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for a Thai place in that old Ponderosa near Hampton and Fyler.

Let me add the Moonlight Ramble. I did it for the first time last night and it was a blast! 10,000 people on bikes riding throughout the city was a trip. Already can't wait for next year.

[StanleySnail]

Originally Posted by gotigers123

You're describing St. Louis?

LOL an attempt at sarcasm, which as most of my ripostes go, didn't quite catch on with the local receptors.

Actually, excluding the dry/pleasant climate, there are pockets of the favorable items I mentioned around St. Louis, mostly in the City.

[1greatcity]

I love the St Louis accent, as in: "Just take Highway Farty to get to Warshington University and Farest Park."