The Beth Lists
  • Homepage
  • Little Bear's Adventures
  • Diverse Dining List
  • 90 Notable Nights
  • Happy List
  • Quilt Adventure Blog
  • Not So Happy List
  • The Texas Twenty List
  • Mom's Picnic List
  • 18+ Dance Adventures
  • 55 Strangers
  • The Barbie Bucket List
  • 60 Celebrations
  • 57 Celebrations of the Fifties!
 90 Notable Nights

#134 Moonrise Hotel in St. Louis

5/28/2016

2 Comments

 

​"Urban Chic & Comfy Sleek"
​

​These words on the hotel website, were supposed to lure me. But, I'm usually more drawn to words like, quaint and cozy.​



Picture
The prices I found on a Groupon Deal for $369.00, also didn't convince me to book a room!  But darn I wanted to stay at this place!

Determined

I was so drawn to the photos and descriptions of this totally unique, 7-year old hotel.  I was determined to find a good price online. I did and I booked a night. 
Picture
Both Don and I were curious. The Moonrise Hotel didn't exist, back when we lived in St. Louis. We had always loved the quirky Delmar Loop area.  In 1979, I did my student teaching at nearby Delmar-Harvard Elementary.  Don lived just blocks away when he attended Washington U.  But neither of us would have wandered east on Delmar Blvd, past Skinker... where the hotel now sits.  

Back in the Day
​
​
In the seventies, things got pretty sketchy on Delmar, when you headed east towards the city. A funeral parlor sat on the property where the hotel was later built.
  
Picture
Joe Edwards, who created this whimsical lunar themed hotel, had a big vision and he was good enough to preserve some of that original building.  It became the hotel's Eclipse Restaurant.

The Lobby
​
​
Don and I arrived last April and were thrilled to have self park options in back.
Picture
We grabbed bags and headed towards the lobby in the newer, 8-story building. As soon as we walked through the door I had to grin, when I spotted the glowing, blue staircase on our left.

​Floating in Space
​

As we moved towards the desk, the illuminated stairway changed colors.  
Picture
I didn't capture the movement of the color change in my photos, but it was quite a lively thing to see.  In fact the whole stairway seemed alive, as it floated upward in the clean, spacious lobby.

Many Moons
​
​
I love a theme, but many theme related hotels are just corny.  
Picture
This space theme was so complete and so sophisticated, it did not allow for eye rolling.  Just smiling. After all, I was raised on The Jetsons cartoons in the sixties.  I love this kind of decor.

Check In
​
​
Even the desk area was space age.
Picture
The light fixtures were obviously cool, but even the design on the front of the desk reminded me of something retro and futuristic. Wait, how is that possible to be both? 

More Lamps and Lights
​
​
Everywhere we looked there were lights twinkling and colorful, glowing fixtures.  
Picture
Picture
Picture
I felt like I was 6 years old again... all bug-eyed, at General Motors Futurama, at the 1964 World's Fair!

Welcoming Travelers...
​
Picture
There were lots of places for travelers to lounge around, with their newspapers or computers.

​The Pets
​
​
And there were goodies for traveling pets as well.
Picture
I loved Astro the Dog, steering the nifty chalkboard spacecraft! The names of the V.I. Pooches and Celebri-Kitties were written in chalk.

​Joe & His Collections 
​
​
Owner, Joe Edwards is an avid collector and there were a lot of his goodies and photos and write ups on display!  I loved seeing the photo of Joe with astronaut, Neil Armstrong.
Picture
It was taken in 2011, 42 years after Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon!  I remember being 12 and watching that famous step, on my grandmother's TV!

​
Toys and Trinkets
​
​
I was born in 1957, just months after the Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik. I guess that means I was born during the birth of the space age, so maybe that's why I loved all the lunar toys... dolls, patches, rockets, figurines, and even lunch boxes.  



Picture
Don and I both grew up watching liftoffs and splashdowns on TV.  It's as if this hotel had been designed, just for our generation.

​
The Retro Stuff...
​
Picture
 ... just made me smile.

The Modern Stuff...
​

Picture
... was just plain cool!   I loved this mirror of circles, near the elevator.  

Up to the Fourth Floor

​Our hallway was glowing and peaceful.  
Picture
Picture
Our little moon & stars door sign, greeted us.
​
Our Room

Just inside the door I began spotting moon art, in our modern room.  
Picture
To the left, I chuckled when I noticed the sliding glass door that covered the closet. Or did it cover the bathroom?  Hmm?  It covered both, but not at the same time.

Annoying Glass
​
​
My biggest pet peeve of modern hotels is the glass bathroom door.  I don't care if they're frosted or not, the early riser is forced to blast light on the late sleeper in the morning.
Picture
Picture
But I decided to ignore that complaint, when I saw the sleek chaise lounge chair!  Woohoo!  I had me a nice time relaxing on that thing, under the moon photo.

Ahh!

​
The bed was heavenly.  Or should I say, Out of This World!
Picture
The cushioned headboard was a treat.  The huge flatscreen TV and the "sound machine"  were extra nice to have.

The View
​
​
Our room had a glass corner, which was fun. There was an unsightly roof below, but I chose to look across, at the old storefronts on Delmar.  
Picture
The best part was peering up at the rooftop lounge.  Even with cloudy skies, we were sure to see the spotlight on the rotating moon after sunset!
​
Rooftop!
​
​
Don and I checked out the rooftop bar in the evening.  
Picture
There were some curious crescent moon chairs and a closer view of the funny moon. 

New Moon Room
​
​
At the east end, there was an enclosed bar with planets hanging from the solar panel ceiling.
Picture
That would have been a good option, if the temps had been any cooler.

Moontinis?
​
​
Evidently they offer moontinis, but we went for some wine.  The people-watching was interesting.  There seemed to be more young locals than middle aged hotel guests.  
Picture
Don and I were probably the only Baby Boomers on the scene. I was glad it was Sunday, since I had a feeling the place could get pretty hopping on weekends.  

St. Louis View
​
​
Before heading off to enjoy The Loop, we took in the view.  
Picture
What a treat to spot the Arch, out beyond Forest Park.  It was beginning to cloud up or we would have waited to watch the moonrise! 

The Loop
​
​
This festive-funky area known as the Delmar Loop, was just outside our door.
Picture
Picture
It was fun to visit our old favorite, Blueberry Hill, where Don and I have enjoyed many a beer, surrounded by rock-and-roll memorabilia.  Joe Edwards opened Blueberry Hill in 1972 and has continued building and refurbishing the whole area since.

More Neon
​
​
We wandered and enjoyed more new-retro additions to the Loop, thanks again to this mystery man named, Joe.  
Picture
Picture
Don and I enjoyed the evening, then we enjoyed a late Thai meal, at a sidewalk cafe before turning in.

Morning 
​
​Next morning, I stepped outside early, to peek at the street before heading to the hotel's gym.
Picture
I was just getting started on the treadmill,  when I noticed something on TV.  I laughed and jumped off the treadmill and dashed right out to Delmar Boulevard. 

Walk of Fame
​

​I stood out on the sidewalk right beside TS Eliot's star, on the Delmar Walk of Fame. The St. Louis Star Walk is yet another festive addition, brought on by Joe.
Picture



I stood next to the street, which was free of cars, due to barricades for road work. I watched the local Fox TV news with their cameras and lights.

​
There Was Joe

I had seen him on TV moments before and there he was standing in the street wearing a flowered shirt and holding a vintage model trolley.  He was being interviewed about his latest project. The Fixed-Track Trolley, that would soon be traveling from The Loop to Forest Park!  
Picture
The news crew took a quick break and Joe looked up and waved with a big smile. I laughed over to him about how I'd been in his hotel gym and spotted him on TV. "I LOVE YOUR HOTEL!" I hollered.  He laughed and got back to his interview.

​What's Notable?
​

It's just a cool, fun place! I'm sure there were many clever people who had fun brainstorming ideas for creating the Moonrise Hotel.  But I loved the hotel much more, just knowing it was one person's passion that made this happen... not a corporation... not Disney... not Marriott.
Picture



Even if I had not had my brief encounter with Joe, I still would have felt like we'd met!  Being a collector of oddball stuff myself, I felt connected to this person who filled the display cases in the hotel!  

I love a theme... done well!
 
2 Comments
kristi o'donnell (weird I know seeing it)
6/1/2016 12:37:39 pm

Love this hotel. LOVE IT. I would so stay here for the rooftop bar alone. And I hate the frosted glass bathroomd door, too. We had it at the Hyatt Nashville and it just brightened up the room so much when you don't want it, too. Also, it had a crazy echo. So, when you turn on the tap for the sink, it sounds like you are taking a shower in the bedroom. Very loud.

Reply
Beth
6/3/2016 12:38:46 pm

Love seeing your name, Kristi O'Donnell! And yes, you two would love this place and the area. You can add to your list. Your travels have helped me make my list... very long!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Ninety Notable

    ​       Nights


    My New Year's Resolution for 2014 was to start documenting some of the memorable overnights I've had in some very odd and curious motels and hotels. Like the adventures in my Dining Blog, I have learned to enjoy the surprises that happen when you step out of the comfort zone, far away from the well-known chains.    

    I began with a few entries recalling my very first home away from home memories from my youth.  Then, I started sharing about some of the quirky and unforgettable motels, hotels and inns that my husband and I have discovered in recent years.

    ​The best part about this challenge was making some lists with Don and getting on the road in search of new overnight adventures.  I gave myself a 2-year goal to write up 90 stories and the goal was met. Now we just keep on adding!

    Archives

    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    May 2023
    March 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    September 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    00 The Blog's Beginning
    0 Foreign Bermuda
    0 Foreign Chile
    0 Foreign Curacao
    0 Foreign - Guatemala
    0 Foreign Italy
    0 Foreign Japan
    0 Foreign Mexico
    0 Foreign Roatan
    0 Foreign Thailand
    Alabama
    Arizona
    Arkansas
    California
    Colorado
    Florida
    Georgia
    Hawaii
    Idaho
    Illinois
    Iowa
    Louisiana
    Michigan
    Mississippi
    Missouri
    Montana
    Nevada
    New Mexico
    New York
    North Carolina
    Oklahoma
    Oregon
    South Dakota
    Tennessee
    Texas
    Utah
    Vermont
    Washington
    Wyoming

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Homepage
  • Little Bear's Adventures
  • Diverse Dining List
  • 90 Notable Nights
  • Happy List
  • Quilt Adventure Blog
  • Not So Happy List
  • The Texas Twenty List
  • Mom's Picnic List
  • 18+ Dance Adventures
  • 55 Strangers
  • The Barbie Bucket List
  • 60 Celebrations
  • 57 Celebrations of the Fifties!