ON THE ROAD

[Turnbull AC's]

But the question is, what's the best place to get a po-boy in New Orleans?

Sweet Mother Mary. What the **** is a po-boy? Is that your dirty little name for a child sex slave?

 

[Bill Horton]

I come in peace.

If your job takes you to St. Louis, definitely order an Imo's pizza. Thin crust and very tasty.

I offer the opposite opinion. It's horrible. It tastes like the really cheap frozen pizzas but four times as expensive.

Well, you must not have had St. Louis Imo's, or just ran into a bad one. Trust me folks, food of the gods.

And Ace, thanks for the reminder. There's a casino on the riverfront, tho the one across the river in East St. Loo is better. And has well-guarded, lit lot.

Let me see if I can offer some perspective here.

Like Simon, I grew up in KC, which has nothing like Imo's. Like a lot of KC kids who come to Mizzou and taste their first St. Louis-style Imoh's, I didn't like it at first. The cheese is different. It's an aquired taste.

But, like many KC kids who learn to acclamate to Columbia's St. Louis leanings, I acquired that taste (and the companionship of a lovely St. Louis girl who has been my wife for 18 years) and now I like Imo's. I also like The Hill, the Cardinals and my in-laws.

Give it a chance, young Simon. It won't kill you to like Imo's just a little.

 

[Flying Headbutt]

Disagree hard with Dooley. Ballston Common Mall blows. If you NEED to go shopping go to Pentagon City Mall.

A fun bar in Ballston though is Car Pool. Pool tables, dart boards, and really good food that's a little cheaper than bar food typically is. Lots of great Arlington ladies to look at too.

For good pizza in Arlington hit up Mario's. Open till like 4am every day, between the Virginia Square and Clarendon metro stops though on the orange line so it may be a tad difficult to get to.

You might also want to check out the Newseum, which is just over the river in Rosslyn I believe. Basically a history of news reporting in this country. Makes for an interesting walk through.

All reviews of the Native American Museum have said it's very disappointing. They also have the new WWII memorial along 17th street next to the Washington Monument. Looks pretty cool driving by.

If you're staying in DC and not venturing into Virginia then the Old Ebbit Grille on 15th street near the White House is good. Luigi's on 19th Street (betwen L and M) has great Italian food.

For drinking, stay downtown for convenience. I've killed many a brain cell at Rumors (19th and M) which is chill during the week and loud on weekends. The Madhatter and Sign of the Whale on M street are fun too. Georgetown and Adams Morgan are overrated areas tough to get to, but that's all opinion.

 

[DocTalk]

Any suggestions for San Diego?

 

[Hustle]

You might also want to check out the Newseum, which is just over the river in Rosslyn I believe. Basically a history of news reporting in this country. Makes for an interesting walk through.

The Newseum is moving to Penna. Ave. and 6th St NW in DC; in the meantime, they've closed the old location and the new place isn't supposed to be ready until '07.

Other than that, Headbutt's right on the money. Never been to Rumors, but made up for it by spending a bunch of time at Sign of the Whale.

 

[Flying Headbutt]

Whoops, I thought something was fishy about that answer I gave about the Newseum. And personally I spend more time at Rumors since my bill tends to be about 1/2-1/3 of what it should be.

 

[funky_mountain]

doc, have dinner at hotel del coronado on coronado island. there are a few restaurants there. i ate at sheerwater.

 

[MUtoFL]

Imo's is fine and all, but if you want a really good pizza in St. Louis, get Elicia's. And if you want the best food in the city, go to the Hill for Italian or head to the South City Diner on South Grand. It's been voted the best diner there forever, and it has great food.
If you decide to head down to Laclede's Landing, a little-known parking tip: If you park in the lot by the President casino, you can go into the casino after you're done drinking and get your ticket validated. It takes a one-time membership fee of $2, and sure beats the $5 or $10 they usually charge to park down there. This also wouldn't be a horrible idea if you're heading to the dome and didn't get a parking pass.
Just don't blow all your money at the casino, which is a pretty bad one anyway.

 

[Starman]

If you use Hotwire.com to reserve hotels in downtown Cleveland, odds are you are going to have something within 5-7 minutes walking distance of the Jake and Gund Arena, and 10 minutes to Cleveland Browns stadium for $50 a night.

Last year, I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in downtown Cleveland. On Euclid, literally 50 yards from the gates of Gund. A renovated, much older building, but they have redone the interior completely.

Very nominal prices, nice rooms (the building used to be an office building and I believe all rooms, even singles, are suites -- as I remember, I got a single, at the bottom of their price list, and it was still a semi-partitioned suite-type room with a couch in the 'living room' area), and also a yummy brunch.

Right next door, also, to a pretty lively Irish pub, the name slips me, but plenty of cold beer was drunk, and so was I. So what's not to like?

I've stayed at the Renaissance in C-town, too. Also very nice, but much much more expensive. If Mr. Publisher is footing the bill, hit the Ren, otherwise, if it's coming out of your pocket, save the C-note a night and stay at the Express. Although, with its location, it does fill up fast.

 

[HoopsMcCann]

I also like The Hill, the Cardinals and my in-laws.

Give it a chance, young Simon. It won't kill you to like Imo's just a little.

that's just ****in' wrong

 

[westcoastvol]

Any suggestions for San Diego?

It's a little off the beaten path in San Diego, but the suburb of Chula Vista to the south east, aka "Chula-juana" has a tremendous hole-in-the-wall steak house known as "The Butcher Shop."

The steaks are just as generous and excellent as the kitsch factor. Red vinyl booths, velour wallpaper, oversized photos of the owner with everyone from Muhammad Ali to Steve Garvey, waitresses with skimpy hankeys masquerading as skirts, a fat guy in a Duran Duran Panama hat butchering songs with his keyboard, drum machine and guitar...seriously, it's right out of a Tarantino movie. Great prices, too.

556 Broadway
Chula Vista 91910
619-420-9440

 

[Simon]

I suggest the Holocaust museum in DC. Might give you an upset stomach but it was well worth it.

 

[PaperDoll]

I don't get to go on nearly enough road trips. However, I've apparently earned a reputation for visiting odd (for a sportswriter) sights along the way. <shrug> Guess you can't take the nerd outta the girl... :-*

As I flip through old photo albums...

Wow, there lots and lots o' shots of the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade.

Miller Brewery in Milwaukee

Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago, and the Aquarium too.

the water show in front of the Bellagio in Las Vegas

Cleveland MetroPark Zoo (if only for the kangaroos)

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in downtown Cleveland, and the science museum right next door

La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles (a favorite since my first trip out there, when I was six!)

Acres of Books in Long Beach, Calif. (and the aquarium a few blocks away ain't too shabby either!)

The Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles (though I've been told it's nowhere near as amazing as the Holocaust museum in D.C.)

Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days! Gotta love those cowboys!

West Virginia Penitentary in Moundsville. There's also a huge Hindu (I think) temple out in the middle of nowhere.

Museum of Natural History in NYC

The Bronx Zoo is my all-time favorite, though I'm looking forward to seeing San Diego's when I'm there this spring. I'll be checkin' back for more "must see" ideas then!

 

[PaseanaARG]

I'm looking forward to seeing San Diego's

Off topic: I saw two Galapagos turtles mate at the San Diego Zoo during my honeymoon. Nearby zoo employee said it was rare to see them mate in public. Boy turtle was unloading one heck of a grudge **** on poor girl -- knocked her all the way across the exhibit during an epic, 20-minute session.

I took that as an omen.

 

[Della9250]

The Bronx Zoo is my all-time favorite, though I'm looking forward to seeing San Diego's when I'm there this spring. I'll be checkin' back for more "must see" ideas then!

As someone whose hobby is visiting zoos, all I'll say is that you better be prepared to walk miles if you want to see everything and not settle for the guided tour. The place is HUGE. I still think the Bronx is better, and not just because of JungleWorld.

 

[Freelance Hack]

Looking for restaurant suggestions in Louisville.

Armchair,

What do you like? There are several great eats on Frankfort Ave. and in the Highlands. Downtown has a few pretty good ones, too.

 

[GuessWho]

In about six months I'll be living in either Salt Lake City of Boise, so I'll have suggestions for those cities a little later. But one place in Boise that I love is Gino's in downtown.

salt lake city of boise? is that like the los angeles angels of anaheim? ;D

Real Salt Lake City of Boise.
That's some rudeness.

Have only been to Boise once, but spent a week there. Can't remember the name, but there's a little place not far from downtown that serves unbelieveably good fried prawns. If you're there, ask around. People will know what you're talking about. Knight's Inn or King's Inn. Something like that. And downtown has a pretty good bar/nightlife scene, too.

 

[Freelance Hack]

Re: LOUISVILLE, Ky.

I used to eat here a lot when I was fat.

Best pizza I ever consumed is at Bearno's. Several locations around town, including one downtown near the bridge.

Upscale dining: Jack Fry's (bring a sport coat) or Kunz's downtown. I like.

I heard the original Tumbleweed on Mellwood is closing. This is such a devastating blow to me and the wifey. We gained many a pound eating there. Oh how I miss you so, Weed...

LODGING: I love staying at the Seelbach downtown. I always ask for the Seelbach Suite once I arrive, which I actually get about 1/2 the time for no extra charge. I'm usually coming in real late. You want this room.

MISCELLANEOUS: There's a really nice skatepark near downtown. If you're into skating, this place is incredibly nice. And free.

ARG,

Tumbleweed is actually building a nice new restaurant at Waterfront Park. Yes, Mellwood has history, but the new digs will be a lot nicer and pretty close to the Extreme Park and Slugger Field.

Of course, Tumbleweeds in Louisville are a lot like weeds. They're everywhere.

 

[Ace]

I don't get to go on nearly enough road trips. However, I've apparently earned a reputation for visiting odd (for a sportswriter) sights along the way. <shrug> Guess you can't take the nerd outta the girl... :-*

As I flip through old photo albums...

Wow, there lots and lots o' shots of the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade.

Miller Brewery in Milwaukee

Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago, and the Aquarium too.

the water show in front of the Bellagio in Las Vegas

Cleveland MetroPark Zoo (if only for the kangaroos)

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in downtown Cleveland, and the science museum right next door

La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles (a favorite since my first trip out there, when I was six!)

Acres of Books in Long Beach, Calif. (and the aquarium a few blocks away ain't too shabby either!)

The Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles (though I've been told it's nowhere near as amazing as the Holocaust museum in D.C.)

Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days! Gotta love those cowboys!

West Virginia Penitentary in Moundsville. There's also a huge Hindu (I think) temple out in the middle of nowhere.

Museum of Natural History in NYC

The Bronx Zoo is my all-time favorite, though I'm looking forward to seeing San Diego's when I'm there this spring. I'll be checkin' back for more "must see" ideas then!

Good for you paperdoll,

When I travel, I like to see something unique or special on the area.

Of course, I don't always have time when working.

But if all you do is go to the game, Denny's and Applebee's you don't get the full gamut of the American Experience.

 

[GuessWho]

For those who like to look for rare or out of print books, there's a great place in Houston near Rice University called the Detering Book Gallery. It's in an old house at 2311 Bissonnet. As an extra added attraction, it's directly across the street from a neat old bar called Kay's, a hole-in-the-wall place that used to be a big sportswriter hangout although I'm not sure it is anymore. And if you're into walking, the area in and around Rice is great. Neat old homes and huge oak trees that form a canopy over some of the streets.