St James, MO

St. James is known for its wineries.

It has Jonnies Bar, which has been in operation for over 50 years. Jonnies has a distinctive three-sided "Stag" beer sign at the front door. As you enter, there is a sign with about 20 names of people who have been barred from entry. I asked the bartender what you have to do to get banned, and she said "Quite a lot, actually." It turns out that fighting is the biggest banning offense. The chicks in there must be pretty tough because about a third of the people on the list were women.

Inside, it's a smokey old fashioned kind of joint, with nicotine stained walls and ceiling. There are lots of antiques, like an old cash register, old liquor bottles and that kind of thing. There also are a bunch of arrowhead displays.

The crowd is a bit eclectic. Everybody smokes (except me). A lot of the women had pierced noses and lips, and the bartender had a tattoo on her face. Even so, it has more of a good old boy atmosphere than a punk atmosphere. It is a biker spot for sure. The prices are super cheap ($3.50 for Wild Turkey).

There are several motels. The Greenstay provides a pleasant surprise. From the outside, it looks a bit worn; however, the rooms have been renovated with nice bedding and flat screen TVs. Also, they have set up a small lobby bar. This is a convenient spot nearby Johnny's Bar.

Between St James and Rolla, be on the lookout for the Murdon dripping water sign.