MVC Tournament Experiences

[The 'hut]

People are sharing on several threads, and while I will share my first experience at the tourney, I would like to hear some other's highlights off the court. Stayed and the Pear Tree..ok. Shuttle is available, walk isn't bad. Syberg's in the hotel makes a mean Bloody Mary. Union Station is awful. Joe Bucks a good spot. We used the $5.00 lot just west of the Westin for Sunday and it was fine. The Frontier Fan experience was ok, but not really a family spot if you have kids...which we didn't. Some great food at Cunetto's and even stopped at Shakespeare's Pizza in Columbia on the way home. Call aheadby 45 minutes so you can keep moving. Shocks were fantastic and most of the fans were ok. Pep Rallys were cramped and what you might expect....except I met Pogo on Friday and Mrs. Pogo on Sunday. Some images you can't hope but to erase from your memory, but I had one I want to stick. I will never, ever forget Debbie's smile as I wished her well. I know her family sees the ravages of that bastard taking her away, but I saw a spirit there that will stick with me. I lost my mother to a similar affliction, so have travelled that road. I'm glad the Shockers gave her what none of us could ever have given her. Other than the hope it could be in another conference, I am planning on attending for many years to come.

[LandStander]

I couldn't believe how every restaurant downtown closes on Sunday during the tournament. It better not be like that in two weeks. This was the first year we wanted to stay longer Sunday afternoon rather than heading out immediately after the game, and only 1 restaurant we could find was open. And since all the could offer my vegetarian wife was a cheese pizza we decided to leave. That is the only disappointing experience I have had in the last four years (outside the game results) I've had.

[ShockBand]

Mrs. ShockBand and I had a great time! We only attended the WSU games, as we wanted to get out and enjoy STL a bit. We stayed just off I-64 in Brentwood at the SpringHill Suites, and used the MetroLink station there in Brentwood to get downtown and back. Metrolink was a breeze to use and we had tons of great conversations with Shocker fans, other Valley fans, and some STL locals.

Friday after our game we grabbed a quick early dinner at SanSai Japanese grill near the hotel (good yakisoba and sushi for a very decent price), then the Mrs. donned a black and gold dress and I my nicest suit complete with my black and gold bow tie. Off to Powell Hall for the St. Louis Symphony's performance of the Verdi Requiem. I hereby claim that the playing of the Dies Irae,

complete with the percussion beating the living hell out of the bass drum and the brass playing with ungodly power, exorcised the demons of the Lou. If you are a classical music fan, the St. Louis Symphony and Powell Hall are both treats you should not miss.

Saturday we did some shopping before heading to the pep rally and then the game. That was a joy to see the team go beyond beast mode and into raw annihilation mode. We were hoping to take the team's good fortune with us to the Casino Queen, but alas, like usual, we left poorer than when we walked in. But only by $20, so it wasn't too bad. The intent was then to head to The Hill and go to Cunetto's, but they were insanely busy with a nearly two hour wait, so we went driving around. I got so turned around that had it not been for the maps and navigation on my phone, it would have turned into

We finally found a place to eat that wasn't crazy busy, which was a good thing, as Mrs. ShockBand was getting "hangry" - her exact words. Some delicious bread and pasta and giant glass of riesling took care of that!

Slept in Sunday morning, thanks to the loss of one hour of sleep, watched a few talking heads give the Shockers props on TV, and then checked out and headed downtown for the day that I have been waiting 27 long years to experience once again. I was there in Tulsa, as a wide-eyed innocent 19 year old freshman (who was in the process of being corrupted by the "old guard" of the pep band) to see the last tournament championship. Until yesterday. How sweet it is. I honestly think that if there was any pressure on this team, it may have been more about getting the STL monkey off our back than an NCAA tournament run. Well, that has now been checked off.

We took off for home right after the game, seeing what seemed to be a million cars with Shocker flags and magnets and signs on the way. A happy Shocker Nation army was on its way home!

[Dan]

I couldn't believe how every restaurant downtown closes on Sunday during the tournament. It better not be like that in two weeks. This was the first year we wanted to stay longer Sunday afternoon rather than heading out immediately after the game, and only 1 restaurant we could find was open. And since all the could offer my vegetarian wife was a cheese pizza we decided to leave. That is the only disappointing experience I have had in the last four years (outside the game results) I've had.

This is a good example of how the town of St. Louis could give 2 rips about the tournament. Other than Joe Bucks and a few other places, I couldn't tell you how many people (including business owners) asked "what are all these Wichita State people doing here?" If some of these bars or restaurants even put forth half an effort to promote itself duing this time, they would clean house.

[WSUwatcher]

Well, Dan, the bar / tavern owners figured that with Creighton not coming, they didn't need to expect any extra business.

[bhuber]

We stayed at the Drury in Creve Coure missoiri .....$69.99 / night. Shox special rate. Free wifi.....Free parking......Free breakfast. Eggs...taters....cinnamon rolls....toast.....cold cereal.....oatmeal.....sausage....milk....juices. A+ Breakfast. Happy hour was amazing so my wife and daughter said. Rooms were very nice....clean....and quiet. Down fall is it was 16 miles from scottrade center.....but with money we saved well worth it.

Ate 1 afternoon at joe bucks. Good food. Reasonably priced.

I thought prices in the scottrade center were hideous....but hey you don't go to things like this for the cheap food.

Overall great time in the Lou.

[Rosewood]

Did anyone else hit the random traffic stoppage on I-70 Sunday night? I never saw any signs of a wreck or anything really. Just for some reason traffic came to a dead stop and then slowly started moving and eventually we were back to normal.

I hate I-70 between KC and StL so much.

[Shock Top]

Did anyone else hit the random traffic stoppage on I-70 Sunday night? I never saw any signs of a wreck or anything really. Just for some reason traffic came to a dead stop and then slowly started moving and eventually we were back to normal.

I hate I-70 between KC and StL so much.

YES!!

This is one of the reasons I started the I-70/I-44 discussion thread.

I-70 can get dangerous with all the speed changes from trucks passing each other and crap.

[Rosewood]

I couldn't believe how every restaurant downtown closes on Sunday during the tournament. It better not be like that in two weeks. This was the first year we wanted to stay longer Sunday afternoon rather than heading out immediately after the game, and only 1 restaurant we could find was open. And since all the could offer my vegetarian wife was a cheese pizza we decided to leave. That is the only disappointing experience I have had in the last four years (outside the game results) I've had.

Most of the places on The Hill are family owned and have a family understanding that they will close on Sunday. No one that lives in that neighborhood works at the larger 'chain' places that do stay open on Sundays. A lot of places away from The Hill have simply followed that lead. And normally on Sundays in early March, downtown StL is dead. There isn't much of a reason to be open. Two weeks ago when I stopped at Pi downtown there were all of 6 people there at 6pm.

[Rosewood]

YES!!
This is one of the reasons I started the I-70/I-44 discussion thread.
I-70 can get dangerous with all the speed changes from trucks passing each other and crap.

I have seen all of I-70 - from Baltimore to Utah. The Missouri part is by far and away the worst. In Kansas (for the most part) everyone keeps right except to pass. In Mo you have people that will creep up on you and hang out in your blindspot. These same people will then pass you and then slow back down to 70mph.
But the trucks are the worst. My gramps was a trucker. I appreciate truckers. But these jackholes need to learn how to drive. If the semi in front of you is doing 60 and you are doing 65 and the left lane has a row of cars passing you both you don't just get to signal and expect everyone to let your ass in. And if you do get over, SPEED UP AT LEAST TO THE SPEED LIMIT TO PASS. Also it should be a crime punishable by death for two Semis to drive side by side under the speed limit while they chat on the CB.

I had to go through KC since my babysitter and thus my children were there. Also I've been stuck behind two may 55mph semis on US-400 over the years to consider that route. But if I end up being sent to Hell after I die I assume it will be me driving I-70 is Missouri for all eternity.

[ShockBand]

Did anyone else hit the random traffic stoppage on I-70 Sunday night? I never saw any signs of a wreck or anything really. Just for some reason traffic came to a dead stop and then slowly started moving and eventually we were back to normal.

I hate I-70 between KC and StL so much.

There was a highway patrol car with lights flashing and someone pulled over on the right shoulder, making most everyone go to the inside lane only. With the rubbernecking and slowing down along with single lane, it really clogged things up. Probably took at least half an hour for the jam to loosen, I would bet.