What is the future of Belleville? It seems poised for a bright future. It has historic neigborhoods with fair prices, quaint Main Street, connected to Downtown St. Louis via Metrolink. It may be more convenient to downtown than many western, Missouri suburbs. Someone said it was trying to be the University City of Metro East. Can anybody shed light on Belleville? Any challenges?
Check your Message Box Expat. I'll also post more info on here in a little bit.
Miles, I'm glad you're also interested.
Take a look at these sites for more information on Belleville. Main Street is Belleville's Back Bone. You can find other interesting links at that website.-
http://www.artonthesquare.com/
http://www.bellevillemainstreet.net/
http://www.bellevillechamber.org/
http://www.broadwaycenterofarts.com/
http://vousart000.tripod.com/midtownrevue/
http://www.three-1-three.com/events.htm
http://www.yourbelleville.com/bv1/
Take a look at these sites for more information on Belleville. Main Street is Belleville's Back Bone. You can find other interesting links at that website.-
http://www.artonthesquare.com/
http://www.bellevillemainstreet.net/
http://www.bellevillechamber.org/
http://www.broadwaycenterofarts.com/
http://vousart000.tripod.com/midtownrevue/
http://www.three-1-three.com/events.htm
http://www.yourbelleville.com/bv1/
Thanks for the good info. How long does it take to drive from downtown Belleville to downtown St. Louis? How many minutes average? When I Yahoo map it, they offer a route that goes up through Fairview Heights first and it seem longer than needed. Isn't their a more direct and quicker route?
I know about the interesting & pretty historic areas around downtown Belleville, but I didn't know about the Signal Hill area. Curious to see it.
I know about the interesting & pretty historic areas around downtown Belleville, but I didn't know about the Signal Hill area. Curious to see it.
- 2,005
When I've gone to Belleville it's about a half hour from downtown to downtown. I took I-64 to I-255 to IL 15 to IL 159. IL 159 runs into the square downtown. If you take the Fairview Hts route it'd probably take twice as long, especially at 5:00.
Of course MetroLink drops you off pretty close to downtown Belleville as well and it takes about the same amount of time IIRC.
Of course MetroLink drops you off pretty close to downtown Belleville as well and it takes about the same amount of time IIRC.
It should be about 20-30 minutes to St Louis, from downtown. Belleville has route 15 running under it. It's a freeway for the most part, except for a few lights. Signal Hill is significantly closer to Downtown St. Louis, more like 15 minutes.
Thanks for the information, Xing. I'd found one or two of those sites just googling around, but it may have been a bit longer to find them all. I have to say it is still amazing to me what can be found on the web! This site is an excellent example. I just posted the web address for urbanstlouis at another forum (gaystlouis). There were two out of town couples looking for info about STL. By far and away this site is the place to come if you're looking for information and informed opinion!
Art lovers walk city's downtown
Businesses serve wine, host artists in Belleville
BY GEORGE PAWLACZYK
News-Democrat
BELLEVILLE - Bob DeFrates, a 61-year-old former burned-out artist who revived artistically two years ago and is again producing art, relaxed on a couch.
All around in the Art on the Square gallery off East Main Street his works were being examined by two dozen or so patrons, part of a large crowd who showed up for the annual Downtown Belleville Art & Wine Walk. The Walk was held Friday and Saturday.
DeFrates, a well-known artist whose drawings and etchings favor the realistic approach, said, "This is unbelievable. I feel very good. Anything that brings people to downtown is all right with me."
Richard Munie, of Belleville, a former art student and now a mathematics major at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, discussed with DeFrates the technique needed to make an etching, a drawing that is reproduced by use of a metal plate.
"Is it difficult?" asked Munie. "It's difficult," Munie said.
Many businesses in the area of West and East Main Street near the fountain and on Washington Street opened their doors so various local artists could display their works.
Family Martial Arts showed "Oriental Art" by Samantha Winkler while the St. Louis Bread Co. featured "The Art of Glenn McCoy," a political cartoonist for the Belleville News-Democrat.
At Castletown Geoghegan Irish Pub, the "Celtic Art" of Damien Duffy was shown. At the Washington Street Grille, "Classics in Pencil" by Ed Bizan were displayed.
A total of 18 downtown businesses participated in showing works by local artists.
Angela Gabriel, an artist and art instructor who operates Absolutely Starving Artist Studio, said turnout was good.
"Art sells OK in Belleville," she said.
Her works, titled "The Angela Gabriel Collection," were on display at her shop on East Main Street. A dozen people were inside looking at the watercolors, pastels and oils.
Contact reporter George Pawlaczyk at gpawlaczyk@bnd.com and 239-2625.
Businesses serve wine, host artists in Belleville
BY GEORGE PAWLACZYK
News-Democrat
BELLEVILLE - Bob DeFrates, a 61-year-old former burned-out artist who revived artistically two years ago and is again producing art, relaxed on a couch.
All around in the Art on the Square gallery off East Main Street his works were being examined by two dozen or so patrons, part of a large crowd who showed up for the annual Downtown Belleville Art & Wine Walk. The Walk was held Friday and Saturday.
DeFrates, a well-known artist whose drawings and etchings favor the realistic approach, said, "This is unbelievable. I feel very good. Anything that brings people to downtown is all right with me."
Richard Munie, of Belleville, a former art student and now a mathematics major at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, discussed with DeFrates the technique needed to make an etching, a drawing that is reproduced by use of a metal plate.
"Is it difficult?" asked Munie. "It's difficult," Munie said.
Many businesses in the area of West and East Main Street near the fountain and on Washington Street opened their doors so various local artists could display their works.
Family Martial Arts showed "Oriental Art" by Samantha Winkler while the St. Louis Bread Co. featured "The Art of Glenn McCoy," a political cartoonist for the Belleville News-Democrat.
At Castletown Geoghegan Irish Pub, the "Celtic Art" of Damien Duffy was shown. At the Washington Street Grille, "Classics in Pencil" by Ed Bizan were displayed.
A total of 18 downtown businesses participated in showing works by local artists.
Angela Gabriel, an artist and art instructor who operates Absolutely Starving Artist Studio, said turnout was good.
"Art sells OK in Belleville," she said.
Her works, titled "The Angela Gabriel Collection," were on display at her shop on East Main Street. A dozen people were inside looking at the watercolors, pastels and oils.
Contact reporter George Pawlaczyk at gpawlaczyk@bnd.com and 239-2625.