Dear Saint Louis,

Or should I call you Lou? (After all, we have known each other for quite a few years now). You’ve always managed to stay close to my heart, despite a few break ups here and there, which, let’s face it, were my fault. I thought the grass was greener somewhere else. Thanks for understanding and sticking by me. I really appreciate it. And now that I’m older, and maybe even a bit wiser, it’s nice to know you again, and to watch my kids get to know you too. I’d like to think of you as a best-kept secret, but it seems nowadays Lou the secrets getting out, and, to be honest, I’m relieved. I don’t have to keep sticking up for you anymore, telling people why you’re so cool, why there’s more to you than meets the eye, to just give you another chance. I’m so happy that more people are getting to see and discover the Lou that I’ve come to love.

Here are a few reasons why I love you Lou:

I know there’s more to you than the Arch, but seeing it serves as the perfect reminder that I’m home.

Watching the swans in Lafayette Square park.

Forest Park: Sledding down Art Hill in the Winter; Paddle boating in the Spring; The Balloon Glow; The Muny; The people watching.

The chocolate malt at Crown Candy Kitchen.

The chocolate caramel lollipops at Bissingers. Thanks Mom!

Mac n’ Cheese at Sweetie Pies, spicy shrimp burrito at Neveria La Vallesana, Bobo de Camarao at Yemanja Brasil and the Fessenjoon stew at Cafe Natasha’s. I could go on and on but I’ll stop there.

Taking a bike ride up the river road to Bob Cassilly’s “Cementland.”

The startup synergy happening in downtown, from the hosts such as T-REx and Arch Grants, to the doers such Brain Drain and StartLouis crew, to the innovators at Icarus Club in the newly opened entrepreneurial space Lab1500.

Dinner, shopping and a movie: now all under one upscale roof at the Collective Mx. What’s not to love?

The handcrafted stacking rings and monogrammed necklaces from the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it jewelry shop, Jenny Walker Jewelry, in the CWE.

The inspirational quotes on the Children’s Library wall at the spectacularly renovated Central Library.

The perfectly-crafted Other brew: a cup from Sump Coffee and a cuppa from The Retrailer. I totally get it now!

The endlessly enchanting caves at City Museum.

And last but not least, the mouth-watering apple fritters from John Donut for when I have the late night (or early morning) munchies.

I could go on and on Lou. You know that. But I’ll stop right here. I don’t want to embarrass you with my endless praise. But suffice it to say, you’re pretty awesome! Keep on doing what you do, Lou.

Love,

Genevieve