St. Louis is home to Anheuser-Busch, Inc, the Gateway Arch and Pappy’s BBQ. But most importantly it is now home to an old family friend Sarah Minier. A friend of my mom’s for years, she has become an extra aunt and surrogate mom to the Allongo kids. Beyond that she is also an amazing cook. Besides, St. Louis was “on our way” to the west coast. We arrived to Sarah’s just in time for an incredible dinner and plenty of TiVo. It was great to catch up on all the shows we’ve missed while being on the road.Though we woke up to rainy and dreary (hello DC all over again) St. Louis, we did not let that deter us. Exploring would happen. Complete with jackets and umbrellas, we embarked on our journey around town. First stop, the Cathedral Basilica St. Louis. This incredible church is ornately decorated with beautiful mosaics that serve as a reminder that God is ever present in our lives. From there we headed to Poppy’s BBQ. A St. Louis staple, I first heard about this place on an episode of “Man vs. Food with Adam Richman.” As one of my favorite shows, I had to follow in Adam’s footsteps. This place was INCREDIBLE. All I can say is YUMMY!
Full of pulled pork, we headed to the Gateway Arch. Being it was such a dreary day, we decided not to take the elevator up but instead explore the “Museum of Westward Expansion” that sat in the base. It was a very educational museum taking the visitor through a thorough timeline of the 1900’s and the major events of each year. Did you know that the saying “O.K.” came from the presidential campaign of Marten Van Buren? His nickname was “Old Kinderhook” and O.K. was how the campaign referred to him. Though he lost the election, the term has stayed. Look at us learning stuff. ☺
After our afternoon of learning, we needed a way to kill a few brain cells. So we headed to the Anheuser-Busch Brewery for a tour and free samples. Getting to see the Clydesdales and dalmatians featured in their marketing was a great treat. We walked the grounds, learning the history of the company and the steps to brew a Bud. The tour ends in the Anheuser-Busch bar where each guest is treated to 2 free, 5oz samples of any beer available. I went with Shock Top and something Pumpkin. Both were delicious. 
The day ended with another Adam Richman suggestion – Crown Candy Kitchen. Known for its malts and shakes, Chris and I both grabbed one to go. Before we left, we had to pay homage to the wall of drinkers. These are men and women who have completed the “5 Malts in 30 Minutes Challenge.” If you complete the challenge, you get your drinks for free and your name on the wall. With fewer than 30 people listed since the challenge started in 1913, I wouldn’t dare try the challenge. But I had great respect for those who did. After another yummy dinner thanks to Sarah and a few loads of laundry, we called it a night. The next day was another driving day as we head to the Lawrence, KS and the University of Kansas. Go Jayhawks?!?
