NAOSMM 29th Annual Conference and Trade Show
July 29 - Aug 2, 2002
Our theme for this year's conference is "Gateway To Excellence" to reflect NAOSMM's goal to enhance further our level of performance and professionalism within our organization and work place. We confidently anticipate a well-rounded conference experience for everyone and invite all members and newcomers to attend and "Meet us in St. Louis." Sigma-Aldrich has a special afternoon planned for this year's conference. Click here to find out more.
Hotel: The conference will be held at the Millennium Hotel, which many of their rooms provide exceptional views of the Mississippi River and the Gateway Arch. It is conveniently located downtown to put you in touch with all that St. Louis is famous for. The hotel has three restaurants: the Fourth Street Grill, the Park Café, and on the 28th floor, you'll find the Top of the Riverfront Restaurant, the city's only revolving restaurant. Enjoy spectacular views while enjoying classic American cuisine and the most popular Sunday brunch in town. The hotel also has a fully equipped fitness center, and indoor and outdoor swimming pools. And yes, there are coffee makers in each room.
I'm In St. Louis And I'm Hungry - Where Else Can I Go?
Downtown St. Louis boasts over one hundred restaurants from fine-dining to easy-going casual. St. Louis is renowned for its Italian neighborhood, The Hill, and has many splendid Italian eateries. In addition, you'll find brewpubs, great steak places, and Mexican, Irish, Chinese, and Cajun cuisines just to name a few.
Union Station, a short Metro-Link ride west, is home to several eateries including Casa Gallardo - Mexican, Route Sixty-six Brewery, Hard Rock Cafe, Landry's - seafood, and Mandarin House - Chinese. Union Station is about fourteen blocks west of the Millennium Hotel.
What about right around the hotel, you say? Care for a taste of Cajun or French cuisine? Head to the Soulard Historic district, south down Broadway starting three blocks from the hotel. Within four blocks north lies the Cafe de France, that is the peak of fine, formal French dining. Tony's, the Five-Diamond Award-winning restaurant, lies three blocks to the north. Within four blocks you'll find Mike Shannon's Steak and Seafood, a hangout of many sports players, and Kemoll's Italian Restaurant one of the top finest formal Italian establishments in St. Louis.
While in St. Louis, try out some of the local unique foods: Gooey butter cake, St. Paul sandwich (an egg foo young sandwich), Ted Drewes frozen custard, toasted ravioli with marinara sauce, or maybe some crab rangoon (crab meat and cream cheese plus spices wrapped in a wonton and fried.) And don't forget the ultra-thin crust St. Louis-style pizza! Wow, I'm hungry! Let's eat!
Nightlife in St. Louis
What goes on when the sun goes down in Saint Louis? In the downtown area, you'll find a wide variety of dance and music clubs, most of which are located a few blocks northwest of the hotel, along Washington Avenue, between 14th and 8th Streets, a stretch that has developed within the past handful of years into a rather hip and trendy area. The very spacious "Galaxy" features live indie rock, punk, and metal, as well as the region's longest running live, interactive fetish show. Others on Washington include the posh, late night dance club "Velvet," the classy, hip-hop oriented "Tabu," and the retro lounge styled "Tangerine." If you feel like revisiting the seventies, check out "Polly Esther's," or go for Saint Louis' newest attraction and visit the three story dance club "Oxygen," a place where you can pay for having up to twenty different aromas, mixed with 96 percent oxygen, pumped up your nose, while talking, drinking, and dancing with other fellow mask wearers.
"Laclede's Landing," an entertainment and late night drinking district, is located just north of the Gateway Arch, with about twenty different establishments. Of those, "Mississippi Nights," a major music venue, known for attracting national acts, the "Morgan Street Brewery," a fine brew pub with outstanding food, and "Boomer's," a bar that offers dance and drink 'til three AM, stand out among the many choices there.
Closer to the hotel, and certainly also noteworthy is the "Broadway Oyster Bar." The décor and the building itself are 150 years old. It is the only place in Saint Louis to serve truly fresh oysters and it ranks high among Cajun food lovers, and is famous for its live music on the outdoor patio, featuring Jazz, Blues, Cajun, and Zydeco.
If the club and bar scene is not for you, Saint Louis offers music lovers the world class and Grammy award winning Saint Louis Symphony at Powell Hall, featuring renowned house conductor Hans Vonk. The fabulous Fox Theater, where, among other things, you can take in a variety of Broadway style shows. The Muny, a world-renowned open air theater, presents Broadway-style musicals nightly during the summer.
And if all that weren't enough, there is riverboat gambling along the downtown waterfront, and stand-up comedy in Union Station.
Sports: St. Louis is the Major League home of the Baseball Cardinals, 2000 Super Bowl Champion, Rams, and perennial playoff contenders, the Hockey Blues. St. Louis and the Metropolitan area also can boast about minor league teams in baseball, hockey, football, and basketball. In addition, the area offers auto racing, horse racing, water sports, golf, tennis, and amateur sports. Finally, in case you were looking forward to watching the St. Louis Cardinals Baseball, they are in town the week-end of July 26-28th to host the archrival, Chicago Cubs, but be advised that these games sell out quickly.