<p> Karyn’s Favorites (You will notice a theme of free or extremely cheap in all of this) Things to do:</p><p> Zoo: StL Zoo is one of the best in the country, and among my favorite free activities. Also, it’s just a mile from campus - walk over or park for free on Oakland (just south of Highway 64/40) across from the paying parking lot. For a few dollars more, I think the Insectarium (lots of creepy bugs) and Children’s Zoo (goats to play with, baby animals to pet, and cute kids to watch) are well worth it.</p><p> Science Center: For the fourth-grader in us all! Push all the little munchkins out of the way to try to figure out the basic physics of cool kids toys. The Science Center is very near the zoo, so it’s a great activity if it is too hot or rainy to wander the zoo.</p><p> The Muny: This is a huge (12,000 seat!) outdoor theater in Forrest Park that shows first rate plays from nationally recognized touring groups. Plays show in the summer (done for 2005) and make for a great evening – bring in a picnic and sit outside to watch some classic musical on a warm summer evening. You can get pretty good seats for about $15, or show up a bit early and get free tickets that are a bit far back but still fine. (On weekends you need to be at least an hour early, but on weeknights you can essentially just walk up and get a free ticket.)</p><p> Forest Park Balloon Race: The race (September 17) is cool (and nearly causes lots of accidents around the city from people watching), but it is the Balloon Glow the night before (September 16) that you can’t miss! They have hundreds of hot air balloons getting ready in Forest Park. You can wander around and chat with the operators, or just bring a picnic and sit on the hill and watch as they periodically light the fires in the balloons so they fill up and glow beautifully. Be sure to go! Shopping:</p><p> Thrift Stores: There are several clusters of thrift stores around, but the closest and best is by the Med School on Forest Park Parkway.</p><p> Soulard Farmer’s Market: A huge farmer’s market near downtown. Saturday morning is by far the best time to go. There is also a great and incredibly cheap spice store. Directions are easy to google for, or I can take you some weekend.</p><p> Kirkwood: The Big Bend exit off of Highway 44 has a plethora of cheap shopping - Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Walmart, Target, and Home Goods - along with a great assortment of other regular stores. Kelly’s Recommendations:</p><p>Food: Fitz's: They have good food and excellent rootbeer that comes served in frosty mugs.</p><p>California Pizza Kitchen: They have some very original pizzas and pastas. I recommend the Yukon Gold Potato Pizza!</p><p>Cold Stone Creamery: Delicious ice cream! Choose your size wisely because they give generous portions.</p><p>Places: St. Louis Zoo: It's free and it's the only place I know of where you could reach out and touch the penguins, if only the zoo attendant wasn't watching you like a hawk!</p><p>Moolah Theater: It looks like a temple on the outside, but inside is a massive single screen movie theater. Get there a bit early and you might find a seat on one of the squishy leather couches or chairs! Such luxury won't burn a hole in your pocket either -- it's the same price to see a movie there as it is at any other local theater (with your student ID).</p><p>Six Flags: It's got roller coasters and a water park! When Halloween rolls around, grab your chance to head to Fright Fest to see how creepy the park becomes.</p><p>Maitrayee’s Recommendations To eat: Saleem's-lebanese food-delmar blvd Thai Gai yang Cafe-Thai of course-delmar blvd Qdobo-mexican-delmar blvd Caribbean-olive blvd Priya-Indian-Mckelvey road and India palace-indian-Lindhbergh Blvd Hunan Wok-Chinese-Brentwood blvd</p><p>To see in St Louis: Forest Park- its beautiful, City Museum-its fun, Arch-its awesome</p><p>Around St louis: Meramic and onandaga caverns-the latter being better than the former Adam’s Massive List of Things to See, Hear, Taste, Feel, and maybe Smell …or at least Explore. pizza: * imos places to eat: * black thorn * juniper grill * llewellen's cheap asian fair: * lion's choice (best fast food in * wong’s wok town!!!) (aka cheap chinese in the market in the * marion's st louis rib co. loop) * super smokers * thai country * big sky cafe * thai cafe * india palace * thai gai yang * this list can go on forever, so ask if (all 3 in or within 5 min walk from loop) you want more..... bars with music: * BB's (blues) * Broadway Oyster Bar (blues, cajun, jazz) * Hi-Point * Frederick's Music Lounge * Venice Cafe * Blueberry Hill * Mississippi Nights * the Pagaent places to buy music: * euclid records * streetside records * vintage vinyl * www.amazon.com places to be ouitside: places to ride: * castlewood st park http://www.stlbiking.com/ * chubb trail * lone elk st park places to throw a frisbee into * forrest park something: http://www.gdstour.com/stlCourses/ sweet places to catch sweet movies: * http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/St.Louis/St.Louis_Frameset.htm * tivoli * plaza frontenac * hi-point * http://http://www.stlouiscinemas.com/ * chase park plaza</p>