Student Guide to St. Louis

No school is an island unto itself; every institution is colored by the community in which it finds itself immersed. As you will see, while Aquinas Institute may be a single building, our resources extend beyond to encompass the wider variety of cultural, religious and artistic opportunities in the city of St. Louis. From the Arch to the Zoo, St. Louis is filled with an abundance of sites, activities and events. Come and get to know the “Gateway to the West”!

Area Attractions
St. Louis offers a variety of attractions. No matter how long you’ve lived here, there’s always something new to discover.

• Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour
  Tour the historic building where Adolphus Busch manufactured the “King of Beers.”
• Cathedral-Basilica of St. Louis
  The “New Cathedral” is about a mile from Aquinas Institute and contains the largest collection of mosaics in the world – some 83,000 square feet of encrusted domes, ceilings, arches and walls.
• City Museum
  Located in downtown St. Louis, the City Museum is an interactive museum suitable for “children of all ages.”
• Forest Park
  These beautiful 1,371 acres house the St. Louis Zoo, the St. Louis Art Museum, the St. Louis History Museum, the St. Louis Science Center (all of which are free), the Muny Amphitheatre, and the Jewel Box Greenhouse.
• Gateway Arch and Jefferson National Expansion Memorial
  The symbol of St. Louis, the Gateway Arch commemorates the pioneering spirit of America. Visitors can ride to the top of the Arch and visit the Museum of Westward Expansion.
• Grant’s Farm
  Home to over 1,000 animals and free to the public, Grant’s Farm is operated by Anheuser-Busch and includes a Deer Park and the Budweiser Clydesdale Stables.
• Missouri Botanical Gardens
  The 79 acres of the Missouri Botanical Gardens provide a wonderful opportunity for leisurely strolls through rose gardens, the Japanese Garden, and historic homes.
• Museum of Contemporary Religious Art (MOCRA)
  Located on the campus of Saint Louis University, MOCRA is dedicated to the ongoing dialogue between contemporary artists and the world’s faith traditions.
• National Shrine of Our Lady of Snows
  One of the largest outdoor shrines in America, Our Lady of Snows offers a variety of activities, retreats and events throughout the year. It’s located across the river in Belleville, Illinois.
• Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts
  Open to the public on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the Pulitzer Foundation presents gallery displays as well and seminars and lectures.
• Six Flags-St. Louis
  St. Louis’s premier amusement park with roller coasters, rides and a water park. Open April through October.
• St. Louis Rams, St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues
  St. Louis boasts professional football, baseball and hockey.
• Union Station
  Listed on the National Landmark of Historic Places, Union Station was once one of the largest train stations in the world. Today it houses shops, restaurants and a hotel.

Area Events
Something’s always going on in St. Louis! Check out these web sites for information on local events.

• Explore St. Louis Calendar of Events
  A searchable calendar of upcoming events around town.
• Fabulous Fox Theatre
  The Fabulous Fox Theatre hosts concerts, Broadway musicals and other productions. The Fox is located two blocks north of Aquinas Institute.
• Grand Center
  Information on events occuring in the Grand Center area.
• MetroTix
  Purchase tickets online for shows at a variety of St. Louis venues.
• Saint Louis Black Repertory Company
  This theatre company performs plays, dances and music from an African-American perspective.
• St. Louis Movie Times
  Find when the latest movies are showing at a theatre near you!
• St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
  The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra offers concerts at Powell Symphony Hall as well as other community venues.
• Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
  An outdoor amphitheater that hosts summer concerts, the UMB Bank Pavilion is located southwest of I-70 and I-270.

Local Restaurants
There are a number of local restaurants enjoyed by Aquinas Institute’s faculty and students.

• 6 North Coffee Company
  2 North Sarah Street
  314-371-1446
• The Best Steakhouse
  216 North Grand
  314.535.6033 / $6-$11
• Crazy Bowls and Wraps
  3852 Lindell
  $3-$7
• Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches
  3674 Forest Park Parkway
  314.531.8500 / $3-$8
• Laclede Street Bar & Grill
  3818 Laclede Street
  314.531.1600 / $1-$10
• Nadoz Café
  3701 Lindell
  314.446.6800 | $2-$15
• Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
  4224 South Grand (Summers only) and 6726 Chippewa
• Vito’s Pizza
  3515 Lindell
  314.534.VITO / $2-$20

On-Campus Resources
Saint Louis University has a number of on-campus resources at the disposal of Aquinas Institute students.

• Busch Student Center
  The Busch Student Center, located on the east side of Grand Boulevard, contains a vast array of conveniences, including:
  • Barnes & Nobel Bookstore
    Student bookstore including all Aquinas Institute textbooks. Enter on the main level; head down the stairs for textbooks.
  • U.S. Bank
    Located on the lower level.
  • Fed Ex Kinkos
    Mailing and copying services on the lower level.
  • Champion Dry Cleaner
    Full-service cleaning services on the lower level.
  • Au Bon Pain
    Baked goods and coffee on the lower level; $2-$10.
  • The Bean
    An internet coffee house on the main level.
  • Grand Market Place
    University dining center on the main level (east of the bookstore).
• Department of Public Safety
  Public Safety keeps the campus safe, offers an escort service across campus, and issues reports on campus security.
• Fusz Hall Food Court
  Located by the Clocktower, this food court includes a Subway, grill and pizza shop.
• Parking & Card Services
  Located in the basement of DuBourg Hall (right next to Aquinas Institute), this office issues your SLU ID card and parking permits.
• Simon Recreation Center
  With your SLU ID you get access to the campus recreation center. It includes a pool, fitness center, track and intramural programs.
• Pius XII Memorial Library
  SLU’s internationally renowned research center houses the Vatican microfilm collection, a four-story theology wing and a wide range of theological journals and electronic database resources. SLU Law and medical libraries are also available for specialized research.

Local Housing

“Where will I live?”

This is one of the most common questions that we receive as people move through their journey to Aquinas Institute of Theology. We recognize that it is a looming concern for those relocating to the St. Louis area; please know that we are here to help make the transition an easy one!

We hope that the following resources will be of some assistance as you look for housing. If we can help you in any way as you search, please do not hesitate to contact us!

• Internet Resources
  There are a number of web sites that can assist you in finding housing in the St. Louis area. We suggest:
  • www.apartmentguide.com
  • www.apartments.com
  • www.forrent.com
  • www.relocationcentral.com
  • www.rent.net

For apartment searching purposes, Aquinas Institute is located in the Central West End of St. Louis.

• Near Campus
  Some of our students and faculty live in the following apartment complexes and have been pleased with the accommodations. Both are within walking distance of Aquinas Institute:
  • Westminster Place
    4005 Westminster Place; 314.533.8330
  • Drake Plaza
    3307 Olive Boulevard; 314.652.2070
• St. Louis Apartment Guide
  A copy of the St. Louis Apartment Guide can be obtained by contacting:St. Louis Apartment Guide
  1215 Fern Ridge Pkwy, Ste. 209
  St. Louis, MO 63141

  You can also phone them at 314.275.8005.

Local Shopping
St. Louis offers lots of places to shop.

• Shopping Malls
  • Plaza Frontenac
    Clayton Road and Lindbergh Boulevard (just south of I-64/40)
  • St. Louis Galleria
    I-64/40 & I-170
  • Union Station
    1820 Market Street
• Local Grocery Stores
  • Straub’s
  • Dierbergs
  • Schnucks

Transportation
Moving around St. Louis is easy!

• Lambert-St. Louis International Airport
  St. Louis’ primary airport is served by a variety of carriers with flights to destinations all over the country.
• MetroBus and MetroLink
  St. Louis and the surrounding communities are easily accessible via the bus and light rail system.
• SLU Shuttle Service
  Saint Louis University offers a shuttle service around campus, as well as an escort service after dark.