On the Road: St. Louis

St. Louis was the ideal honeymoon destination.

At least it was with Seattle beginning its season there, said Abby Blackstone. You’ll have to forgive her for laughing as she provided her last name, though. She’s still getting used to it after getting married to Ian Blackstone on Aug. 28.

And there they on Sunday in the front row of the end zone while the Seahawks warmed up. She wore what can only be described as a blue tutu while he had glasses that were fashionably green. Seahawks green, actually.

The Blackstones live in Tumwater and they went to St. Louis for their honeymoon courtesy of Abby’s mother, who was out there, too. They arrived on Friday, hit up Peel Wood Fired Pizza – which is actually across the river in Illinois – and plan to tour the Anheuser-Busch plant and visit the Arch before returning to Washington at the end of next week.

The Blackstones were there to cheer on the Seahawks. So was Patrick, who is from Puyallup but has lived in Omaha, Neb. the past four years. He came to the game wearing a pro-wrestling mask equipped with a Seahawks logo that he bought in Mexico.

It’s often said that sports brings people together. It also brings us to the middle of America in a town that loves its baseball and is imbued with flavor from the Mississippi River. That was evident on Friday night at the Broadway Oyster Bar.

Now, I’ll be honest. I scrunched my face in disbelief at the recommendation. After all, eating oysters anywhere other than the Pacific Northwest is just setting yourself up for disappointment. I still remember being in Connecticut with a co-worker from Seattle and staring in disbelief when he ordered salmon.

But just as books shouldn’t be judged by covers, a restaurant should not be dismissed because of a knee-jerk perception.

The Broadway Oyster Bar was delicious. So delicious you don’t mind waiting 90 minutes to get the opportunity to order an alligator sausage and shrimp cheesecake. That’s right. Alligator sausage and shrimp and gouda and cream cheese and it was absolutely delicious. So were the VooDoo shrimp, breaded and fried just right, staying so juicy they popped when you bit into them, with a Sriracha sauce spicy enough to make it more than just interesting.

The restaurant was located beneath the train tracks with a patio that couldn’t have been more pleasant, and while this may sting some purists who couldn’t imagine anything but a Budweiser in St. Louis, there was a local brewery called Four Hands that has made a heck of a hoppy ale it calls Contact High.

But the thing I’ll remember most about this weekend’s trip was leaving Seattle on Alaska Airlines Flight 748 on a plane full of Seahawks fans and one St. Louis supporter who got on wearing an Eric Dickerson jersey in classic Rams colors.

He hooted, some fans hollered and the season started with the spirit we’re known for in Seattle and one couple who were enjoying their honeymoon.