David S.'s Profile

An OK place.  I do think, in our internet-ordering world, that stores like this would do better to just focus on being really good hardware stores, and stop trying to be everything-stores with a slight hardware emphasis.  Aco has a lot of products I would never go to a hardware store to buy - pet food, candles, pots and pans - and at the same time, sometimes lacks genuine hardware parts I need.  So if the part you need is even a little out-of-the-ordinary, you might call ahead to make sure they stock it.

We have attended this excellent church for about five years now.  First, let me give you the basics.  The church has about 1500 attendees spread across five Sunday services at two locations (there is one service at a site in Chesterfield).  As of this writing, there are four Sunday services at the Clayton location, at 8:15, 9:45, 11:15, and 5:00.  At any service you will hear (and sing) old and new music, however the 8:15 and 9:45 services are most traditional, with mostly hymns sung to an organ.  The other two services feature guitars, piano, violin, etc., and sing modern songs more often.  The 11:15 service is significantly more liturgical that the 5:00 service, and maybe even more than the other morning services.

This church is definitely focused first and foremost on teaching.  Sermons are exegetical and usually about half an hour long (and can be listened to on the church website, http://centralpres.com.  They also have a sermon archive stretching back into the 1980's now!)  The current senior pastor is a former professor of New Testament studies at Covenant Seminary and is the author of several books, and host of some video series' as well.  During most of the year, the church does a big meal and classes on Wednesday nights.  There is also Sunday School, of course.

The other great strength of the church is in music.  Concerts are regularly performed by the choir or other musicians in the church, and attendance for the Christmas concert literally overflows the pews.

The church is a member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church denomination, which means that it is theologically reformed and relatively conservative.  I know that word means different things to different people, so I'm always hesitant to use it - but if you want to know more, check out the denomination website at http://epc.org.

I have visited Antoine Eye Care twice, and had a good experience both times.  I especially appreciate that, as far as I can tell anyways, they have the latest technology, including an "Optomap" machine to take photos of your eye so you don't need to have your pupils dilated.  (They do charge a little more for this, but I recommend it.  Plus, it's cool to see the photos afterwards.)

Employees are friendly, and I've never had a long wait (I made an appointment both for both visits).

Note that it is located inside Lenscrafters, and they do tell the Lenscrafters people your prescription after every visit.  You may find that a positive or negative.

I have only good things to say about the Brentwood Banfield.  We've been taking our cat there for about five years now.  Dr. Schwartz, the main vet, is competent, thorough, and kind.  The walls of the examination rooms are covered with thank you notes.  I especially like that you leave every visit with a printout detailing your pet's current condition, any problems and recommended treatments, and the cost of each part of your visit.  (I wish we got something like that after a visit to a human doctor!)  The office staff has been fine for us as well.

Our cat did have one big problem develop over the last few years - a tumor in her cheek.  Dr. Schwartz mentioned that he had removed these himself before, when he worked in a rural area and had to do everything - but since this is St. Louis, he recommended us to a specialist in Chesterfield.  And our cat has been happy and tumor free since the surgery.  (Well, to the extent that a cat is ever happy.)

I recommend signing up for one of Banfield's "Wellness Plans".  They certainly saved us a lot of money.  And since they cover basic office visits, you won't feel at all hesitant about taking your pet for a regular checkup every six months.