I take exception to the idea that St. Louis is for eccentrics.

Doesn't every city have a place like City Museum? What's so unusual about an adult playground that is ACTUALLY a playground? Doesn't every museum have a log cabin bar that used to belong to Daniel Boone's family? Or a two story slide?
Shannon, we took you there. You know how normal the place is!
Seriously -- we'd love to have everyone here in St. Louis.
SlowTrav has quite a few connections to the gateway city:
Kim & Chris used to live here.
Jane & Ken used to live here.
Stephanie's family lives here.
Shannon has business customers here.
MoJen and Andrew both live "close" to here.
I bet a Six-Degrees survey would turn up a lot more connections.