City Odyssey

Sometimes, the most spontaneous days end up being the most fun. A few weekends ago, when the weather was just right, I decided to explore the Central West End (CWE). CWE is a lively neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri, known for its historic charm, cultural institutions, and vibrant community. Here’s a glimpse of how my day unfolded:

No day starts off perfectly without fueling up. So the first order of business was grabbing something to eat. My first stop was Kingside Diner, a charming chess-themed restaurant with an impressive menu. Luckily, I arrived before the late morning rush and secured a spot at the bar counter with a street view. There’s something fascinating about people-watching, isn’t there? From my perch, I observed the lively activity around me. For breakfast, I indulged in “The Three Piggies” which featured ham, bacon, sausage, two eggs, chipotle aioli, lettuce and tomato on a croissant, with a side of hash browns. 

When I was done with brunch, I strolled down Euclid Avenue toward Left Bank Books. This charming bookstore, one of the oldest and largest independently owned full-line bookstores in St. Louis, had me captivated by its extensive selection of books. Despite my eagerness to buy more books, I reminded myself of the unread books waiting at home. To show my support, I purchased bookmarks, a card game, and a St. Louis passport. The passport features popular area attractions and comes with stamps that you can place on the attractions that you have visited.So far, mine is halfway filled and I’m looking forward to collecting all the stamps.

After leaving the bookstore, I strolled a short distance to the cluster of art galleries. Despite it being Sunday and the galleries shuttered, I couldn’t resist admiring the artwork through the windows. While I was “art gazing” at the Houska Gallery, I saw a note on the door saying to call or text a number for a viewing. Seizing the opportunity, I dialed the number, and to my delight, the owner, Charlie, responded. I was extremely thankful and felt special that I was given private access to the gallery. My little art loving heart was content! The exhibits, featuring works by St. Louis’s own Cbabi Bayoc  and Arkansas-based Zina Al-Shukri, were nothing short of spectacular. 

Following my departure from the gallery, I walked back up along Euclid Avenue and couldn’t pass up on the chance to grab some ice – cream from Clementine’s Naughty & Nice Creamery. I tried the red velvet flavor, and it was so delicious. I sat by the window, savoring my ice-cream and people watching. When I was done, I decided to head home. It was quite literally one of the best Sundays I’ve had in a while. What started off as a spontaneous day, turned out to be adventurous and full of fun moments. Maybe I should do stuff like this more often, instead of dreading the end of the weekend.

How do you spend your Sundays?