I'm BACK!

I'll bet you thought I had given up on blogging.  Ha!  Never!  
Friday around mid-morning we got on the motorcycle and headed to St. Louis to visit Cliff's sister and her husband.  We usually go highway 50, the more scenic route; but it was getting later in the day, and I was afraid we were going to hit St. Louis at rush hour.  So we took I-70 to get there faster.  It wasn't a fun ride, but everything went well and we got to their house before either of them were off work.  They had given instructions on how to enter their home, so we relaxed and unwound in the comfort of the air conditioning.  Once they were both home, Charlene announced that they were taking us to a grocery store; sounds like a strange place to take visitors, but this was a grocery store the likes of which we had never seen.  You can read a press release about the Des Peres Schnucks HERE.  
There are many Schnucks stores in St. Louis, but none like this one.   

 Belly up to the bar and get a sample of beer or wine; an expert is there to help with your selection.  The samples, by the way, are full servings.  I saw people sipping drinks as they went about their shopping.  

 There's a walk-in wine and cheese cooler, with advice on what wine goes best with the cheese of your choice.  

 More cheese.  There's also a walk-in beer cooler, but I didn't get a picture of it.

 Street entertainers.  Only I guess you would call these guys store entertainers.  Brother-in-law Pat informed us that usually it's a blues band playing.

 Live lobsters.  

Chefs in a couple of locations will prepare your food.  If you feel like a steak, go to the meat counter in the grocery section and pick one out:  for five bucks, they will cook it for you and you can sit at the counter and eat it.  Feel free to buy a bottle of wine and bring it to your table to enjoy with the steak.  

 On the balcony, cooking school is in session.  

You can get a great view of the store from the balcony.

 The entertainers are still going strong.

Tired from all the shopping?  Have a seat and watch television for awhile.  

Cliff's birthday was the 16th of June, so Charlene bought him a carrot cake.  I found a bargain on Eight O'clock coffee, and bought my first watermelon of the year.  


The grocery prices at this store are the same as at all Schnucks locations.  I find most St. Louis grocery prices are a little higher than ours, but not too awfully much.  


It was a fun little expedition, and I have already put in my request to visit Schnucks again next time we're in St. Louis.