Saint Louis Local Customs

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I don't know if it is really a local costume, but it gave me that idea.

I know that the American use to exaggerate in wedding festivities, with well prepared performances, with rehearsals, hard preparation, and dressing in a... a... an American produced way ( Portuguese will understand what I mean. The other... let's hope they will). But, until arriving to Saint Louis I had never seen a whole marriage in uniform. But they were there. The blue marriage taking pictures, against the beautiful frame of the arch and courthouse, and the red marriage waiting their turn. One thing they achieve: it's harder to intruders!

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The Mississippi is an unmistakable part of St. Louis' culture, just as the Chesapeake is to Baltimore, the St. Laurence is to Quebec or the Rockies are to Denver. St. Louis music is laced with references to the mighty muddy Mississippi and locals like Mark Twain made their reputations writing stories set on it or by it. Almost every business in St. Louis advertises itself as the earliest or biggest of its kind west of the Mississippi if they can. And every resident can tell you what they were doing each year the river flooded in a major way. Just south of the junction of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, barge traffic has long been a cog in its economic engine and cultural exchanges go up and down the river more than they go east to west -- think of the blues/jazz scene that moves up from New Orleans or all of the different styles of barbecue that have stakes along the river system. In fact, New Orleans style bars and restaurants are very popular in St. Louis; moreso than any other city I've been to. St. Louis is definitely a river city.

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Even though St. Louis is one of the USA's oldest and most successful cities, you never forget that you're in the middle of America's great agricultural center. Trains roar by at all hours, often sticking you at rail crossings to count 140 cars with your 8-year-old, carrying farm products to and from the ports. Big companies from St. Louis, such as Monsanto, Purina and even Budweiser, made their fortune due to their proximity to agriculture. Even when St. Louisans describe the history of their baseball team, they see the Cardinals as representing the purity of old country hardball (whereas the Yankees were the city slicker team). As urban as it may seem, the country in St. Louis is just below the surface.

What is bowling? You roll a heavy large ball down a sleek wooden floor, attempting to knock down the pins at the end of your lane. Best done with several rounds of cold beers! You might enjoy it more on a day when the weather is lousy, or you just need an excuse to get off the couch! The balls are included in the fee & you must wear special shoes. Regular shoes will scuff up the shiny floor. You can rent the shoes;bring your own socks!

Bowling is popular in the St. Louis area, for sure. You'll find many places to do it. They call them "bowling alleys." Some Catholic churches have their own alleys & they seem to be open to anyone. But most alleys are businesses. Most are open late into the night.

I don't know the history of bowling, (though St. Louis has a Bowling History Museum across from Busch Stadium) and wonder how many countries share this "sport." Do they play this where you live? People in my country have been bowling for ages. I remember watching it on tv when I was a kid. I must have been pretty bored to find this entertaining! There was an alley near my house, then. I'd go with friends or family. it was good, clean fun. I am not a pro, by any means. But I have bowled & never regretted it!!

If you want me to recommend a place, just email me.

This is often the first question a St Louisan will ask you when they meet you. Why? It establishes your social standing and is a way to bond if your high school is compatible with theirs.

I've had coworkers who moved here from other parts of the country tell me that when they admitted to the person they were talking to that they went to high school in another city, the person shut down and they became persona non grata.

This cake is a St Louis food phenomenon and it is completely addictive. Here is a recipe for it given to me by my friend Deb:

Ingredients:
1 stick of butter (softened)
4 eggs
1 yellow cake mix w/pudding
1 8 oz Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened)
1 box of powdered sugar (save 1/4 - ½ cup for topping)

Combine(mix) cake mix, butter and 2 eggs. Spread cake mixture in bottom of a greased / floured 9 x 13 pan.

Combine(mix) cream cheese, powdered sugar and 2 eggs and pour over cake mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees (preheated) for approx 20 - 30 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.

Sprinkle saved powdered sugar on top after baking.

Enjoy.

Go to gym next day and climb on treadmill.

Repeat.

Ted Drewes Frozen Custard has been a St. Louis tradition since 1929. It's an old 1950's "walk-up kind of place", and its parking lot is always full.

Ted Drewes' father began selling it after his cousin, who worked for a carnival, suggested traveling with the carnival and selling frozen custard. The recipe on the machine was horrid, so he experimented until he found the perfect recipe. He left the carnival and started a store first in Florida, and then he moved back to St. Louis, and now this treat is found only in St. Louis.

Ted Drewes Frozen Custard is most famous for a treat called a "concrete" (actually, it's a shake that is so thick that you can turn it upside down, and it doesn't fall out of the cup.) The server wears a hard hat!

In addition, they serve the Custard in cones and as sundaes. The custard is always vanilla with many topping choices. My choice is FOX TREAT--a combination of hot fudge, macadamias and raspberries. It is named in honor of St. Louis' fabulous Fox Theatre. There are many more with names to symbolize some part of St. Louis.

So, if you want to do what the locals do, visit Ted Drewes Frozen Custard.

As with any place you live or visit, you appreciate it more if you know some history. St. Louis has a unique history. Residents are proud of it.

The amazing Mound Builders, as they are known, left mystery and a history behind about a thousand years ago. Then European explorers & settlers arrived & still show their stamp on our city in many wonderful ways, from architecture, to food and festivals. For an American city, we have kept much of our historical buildings preserved, as the treasures we know they are. I really like that about this city.

The attached website gives a brief history, and many links for more historical information.