Most Thursday nights in St. Louis are spent watching "The Office" and eagerly anticipating the weekend nights out on the town, but now we have a new Thursday night ritual to look forward to; Retro Clash at Dantes. Brought to you by Rose Mortem and Ashton Nyte, of Intervention Arts, Retro Clash is a retro club night for those of us who are going to be ill if we have to hear that "Hey Mickey" song ever again. This is not your typical 80s party. Instead, Retro Clash is a dangerous and glittering smash-up of 1970s and 1980s glam, new wave, dark wave, rock and psychedelic melodies, peppered with modern acts inspired by the retro gods.

 

 

Phil's BBQ- Located on Gravois in South County, this popular restaurant is always filled. Maybe it's the pig decorations or the service, but my money is on the food quality. The owners of Phil's are Italian and know how to make a mean spaghetti; my advice: order spaghetti as your side to your rib eye or pulled pork and you will not be disappointed.  They could have a larger selection of beers, but beggars can't be choosers - they practically let you eat a feast fit for a King on a peasant's salary. The one thing I notice about Phil's that makes it stand out is that the barb-b-que seems to be a tad vinegary tasting which adds a nice zing. If you are looking for a tangy bbq and awesome spaghetti, Phil's is your kind of place.

The Oddity Faire: A Mutated Mini Fest was just as much as it was anticipated to be:  weird, amusing, interesting and of course - a unique experience.  For those who did not attend the tour stop at our own Pageant right here in St. Louis on March 17, 2009, you missed a crazy night.

Currently Les Claypool is touring for the remainder of this month (majority of this tour was through out this month) and along with him are a variety of other opening bands/groups that also deserve the title of "oddity." In St. Louis, these oddities were:  Secret Chiefs 3, Saul Williams, and Devotchka - 2 of which are good friends of Les Claypool.

The Trip Daddies, one of the rockinist live acts St Louis has to offer.

I have only lived in the city for a couple of months and in my tenure here I have been lucky enough to see many live acts, some amazing ones and some not so much but one of my favorite offerings this city has is the Trip Daddies. Born and raised St Louis Rockabilly this band has a powerful stage presence, a slick style and the knowledge and experience to know how to rock a crowd.

The fans at Off Broadway were treated to quite a show this last Monday  when Randall Shreve came to town and was joined by our very own Alley Cats to create an experience that was reminiscent  of older time cabaret and vaudeville shows.

Mmm..beer....

One of my newer favorite dinner hang outs is Schlafly Bottleworks in South County. I'm not much a beer drinker most nights, but I love the Hefeweizen and the Pilsner. If you are not a huge beer guzzler, try the Hefeweizen; if you are a Miller kind of guy/gal, go for the Pilsner. The drink glasses are large, filling and satisfying. The prices aren't bad either! If you like pizzas, you can order your own style mini pizza - and  bison, goat cheese and bbq are options! I personally like the BLT with olive oil instead of globs of mayo.  The servers are nice, the food comes up quick! Never a complaint from me. If you are looking for more of an intimate setting, go to the Schlafly Tap Room. It has a larger area for pool or darts and has 2 bars as opposed to the Bottlework's single bar. However, the menu at the Tap Room varies from that of Bottleworks. You cannot order the BLT or mini pizza at the Tap Room. My two favorite dinners a the Tap Room are the Corned Beef Sandwich and the Beer Battered Cod & Fries. Again, never a disappointment at this location either. Their food is always fresh and tasty!

Now we all know St. Louis is famous for its toasted raviolis, however, I must warn others about the the Pasta House located in Afton. The first and only time I ventured there nearly resulted in me upchucking my delightfully tasty lasagna. The service was slow and our waitress tried to short us of our complimentary rolls and butter. However, the worst part came towards the end. My boyfriend likes to collect all the utensils and plates and place them into one, neat pile for the server. He noticed a knife on the windowsill and as he picked it up we noticed a large swarm of ants covering both the knife and a fork, also on the windowsill. This meant those dirty utensils were sitting there for at least a day. I almost became sick at the table. The manager tried to resolve the issue by grabbing at the ants and trying to carry them away in a napkin - dropping ants on the table and floor as he went. While I understand he was in a panic, you'd think a manager might react a tad different. I felt bad for him, but I felt worse physically. He tried to make it up to us by giving us free dessert, but after that I wasn't hungry for the remainder of the day. I'm not sure if that is a common happening there or not, but beware of this restaurant's window sills!

If you are looking for a nice patio dining experience, the Corner Pub & Grill on Big Bend is the place for you! While your date may not enjoy the increasingly chilly weather, the Corner Pub & Grill has several heat lamps sure to keep you both warm and toasty. The prices are low enough of to satisfy you as well! I went with a small group and all of us enjoyed what we ordered: the burgers were cooked perfectly to our orders (medium rare and medium well) and the fried pickles were practically right out of the fryer. If you are sports fan and must watch your football, fear not, there are large flat screens inside the restaurant, however, seating is a bit harder to come by as the indoor section is not as roomy as the patio. Either way, look forward to pleasant and cheap evening without sacrificing taste or service.

Another guilty pleasure of mine - Dickey's Barbeque . It is set up Hardees (Carl's Jr.) style in the sense that once you place your order, you pick your seat and wait for a cook to bring your baskets to you - no tip expected. If it were cheaper, I'd eat here all the time. It has a drive through making it even more attractive. My favorite plate so far is the 2 meat (smoked chicken and turkey), green beans or the onion ring pieces, mashed potatoes and corn bread. They even offer free all you can eat ice cream everyday. I have not yet dinned their with anyone who has been unsatisfied by their meal and I have some pretty picky friends.The cool part about their beverage bar is that all their cups are BIG and plastic (like the cups you get from promotional giveaways such as Maryville, Tan Co, Bank of America, etc.). Its like you get to take home a cool, re-usable gift each time you go. For the record, Dickey's does offer alcohol beverages!

 

Who has not been to Texas Roadhouse ? You are missing out! To those who have been, chances are you've been more than once - its that good! Its western style set up makes for a pleasant, relaxed and casual evening. My favorite non-menu item are the peanut shells that litter the floor and my favorite menu item is their rolls and butter! If you do not have time to dine in, call ahead and pick it up. This particular menu is a bit on the pricey side, but definitely worth the price. I had a fried chicken plate with mashed potatoes and green beans (and rolls!) and it was the best meal I had experienced while dining out in quite some time. It's a great place for a group of friends or double dates!