FIRST THINGS FIRST: The following websites are great resources to find out what is going on and where to find it: The Pitch: HYPERLINK "http://www.pitch.com/"; The local “rag” of what is happening. It is designed to hit an 18 to 35 year old crowd. The Kansas City Star: HYPERLINK "http://www.kansascitystar.com/"; This is the city wide newspaper. If you only buy two papers a week buy the Sunday Paper and either the Thursday or Friday Paper. While it has changed over the years, either the Thursday or Friday paper includes The Preview section. The Preview section of the paper has great indicators of the major events happening that weekend. Experience KC: HYPERLINK "http://www.experiencekc.com/"; I found this one while creating this document! 360 KC: HYPERLINK "http://www.360kc.com/"; What a cool site! Found this one too! HELPFUL TIPS FOR UNDERSTANDING THE CITY: Two states make up Kansas City: Missouri to the East and Kansas to the West. Four counties make up Kansas City: On the Missouri side is Clay County to the North of the Missouri River and Jackson County to the South of the Missouri River. On the Kansas side there is Wyandotte County to the North and Johnson County to the South. For the most part numbered streets run East and West and named streets run North and South. The numbering system is fairly easy but it is easier to explain in person than in writing. If you really care to know, ask me next time we meet. AREAS OF TOWN WHERE YOU CAN’T GO WRONG: 63rd & Brookside: HYPERLINK "http://www.brooksidekc.org/"Known as the Brookside area, this section of town is made of mostly privately owned shops, restaurants and bars. Charlie Hooper’s along offers one of the largest beer selections in the city. The Plaza: HYPERLINK "http://www.countryclubplaza.com/"; What can I say that you haven’t already heard? Enjoy! The Plaza is a crown jewel of shopping, eating, and architecture. Crown Center: HYPERLINK "http://www.crowncenter.com/"; Great summer concerts, neat shops, and great food! Waldo: HYPERLINK "http://www.waldokc.org/waldo.html"; This is an up and coming area, roughly at 75th and Wornell. The Taj Mahal is a great Indian restaurant. There are also several great bars and restaurants. Southwest Boulevard: This is a long road that stretches from 20th & Main to Mission & I-35. If you like Mexican restaurants this is definitely a neat area. My personal favorites are La Bodega and Manny’s. Bluebird Café is also in this area and a great little place. This road runs through the Crossroads at one end. The Crossroads: HYPERLINK "http://www.crossroadscommunityassociation.org/"; Great place for art, restaurants and more. The first Friday of every month the art galleries have opening for the general public, and easy enough the event is called First Fridays. Good times! Martini Corner: HYPERLINK "http://www.velvetdog.com/"; This little area has been growing. Also, the neighborhood just north and west is Union Hill and there has been a lot of great home restoration in that area. Downtown Kansas City: The Power & Light District HYPERLINK "http://www.powerandlightdistrict.com/"; when done will really reignite this area. Also the new Sprint Center HYPERLINK "http://www.sprintcenter.com/"; will be nice too. Westport: HYPERLINK "http://www.westportkc.com/"; Fair warning: This is a younger crowd and this area has its highs and lows. If your first time there is a low, in 6 months it could completely change. This is very much a hot spot for people in their 20’s and for those looking to “bar-hop”. 119th and Metcalf in Overland Park: If you want the best of suburban shopping and restaurants, this is pretty much it! Zona Rosa: ( HYPERLINK "http://www.zonarosa.com/"; and Legends ( HYPERLINK "http://www.legendsshopping.com/"; KC once had more indoor mall space then any other city in the country. With these two locations I am pretty sure we now have more outside shopping areas than the rest of the world! River Market Area: HYPERLINK "http://www.kansascityrivermarket.com/"A great place for living, shopping, and much more. EVENTS YOU CAN’T MISS: St. Patty’s Day! Why are you working on this day unless you have to? We have the largest parade and party for the Irish holiday expect for New York and Boston. So large, that it actually starts a week before the 17th of March. Brookside, Gladstone, and several other communities always have smaller parades the Saturday before the big parade. Opening Day with the Royals: While the Royals haven’t been great for a long time, you can at least have hope for one day of baseball in Kansas City a year! 4th of July: We sure like to blow stuff up on the 4th, and all the days leading up to it! Enjoy the myriad of fire work displays all around the city. THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS!!!! Yes I am a dork about my Chiefs but so is this whole city. If you have never been to a football game or “tailgated” before a sporting event, then Kansas City will ruin you for all other football cities. There is nothing like Arrowhead Stadium on game day! The tailgating starts at dawn, the stadium in the loudest in pro sports, if they fly the jets over before a game it will make your heart race, and when the Chiefs are good there is nothing like a Sunday at Arrowhead. American Royal BBQ: HYPERLINK "http://www.americanroyal.com/"; The American Royals has concerts, rodeos, and plenty of other events throughout the year. But this is one of the largest BBQ festivals in the world! Usually this event takes place the first weekend in October. Outstanding fun! The Plaza Lighting Ceremony: On Thanksgiving night thousands of Kansas City's proudest descend onto the Plaza to watch the Christmas Lights get turned on. It really is beautiful. Don’t worry if you miss them getting turned, it happens everyday at sundown until the first or second week of January. MOVIES: STANDARD HOLLYWOOD MOVIES: There are primarily two movie theater chains in KC: AMC and Cinemark. Cinemark: HYPERLINK "http://www.cinemark.com/"; AMC: HYPERLINK "http://www.amctheatres.com/"; ART HOUSE, LIMITED RUN, and FOREIGN MOVIES: Tivoli HYPERLINK "http://www.tivolikc.com/"; A lot of great movies and offbeat stuff here. You will find this theater in Westport. Liberty Hall HYPERLINK "http://www.libertyhall.net/"; This is in Lawrence, KS. Yes, Lawrence is worth the drive. See more about surrounding communities below. Screenland HYPERLINK "http://www.screenland.com/"; A neat place to have a beer and watch a movie! MUSIC: While the music scene in Kansas City is not what it used to be, there are still a lot of great little bands and a few small places that bring in good bands. Of course it depends on what kind of music you like but always look to the Pitch for who is playing and where: Jazz and Blues: Head over to the 18th and Vine district and ask where to go. Just Google “18th and Vine” and you can read all about this rich history and the birthplace of the blues! Country and Western: Most big acts will come through Kansas City, mostly in the summer, to either of these venues: Verizon Amphitheatre HYPERLINK "http://www.livenation.com/venue/getVenue/venueId/999"; Starlight Theater HYPERLINK "http://www.starlighttheatre.org/"; Also check out Toby Keith’s Bar and Grill at Harrah’s HYPERLINK "http://www.harrahs.com/casinos/harrahs-north-kansas-city/hotel-casino/property-home.shtml"; Irish Music: If you like Irish Music, KC has tons of it. Eddie Delahunt: HYPERLINK "http://www.eddiedelahunt.com/"; He is a must see! If you like it a little more rockin’ try The Elders HYPERLINK "http://www.eldersmusic.com/"; Rock n’ Roll: Here are a few of the places I know of: HYPERLINK "http://daveysuptown.com/"; A premier place for local bands. HYPERLINK "http://www.thebrickkcmo.com/"; If you want to see bands that are just trying to break in this is the place. HYPERLINK "http://www.kcclubs.com/";: Website for Beaumont Club, Westport Beach Club and Grand Emporium. Give you a little flavor of this group of clubs; I have seen acts ranging from Jane’s Addiction to reggae giants Burning Spear to local heroes the Rainmakers play at these clubs. HYPERLINK "http://www.therecordbar.com/"; Almost every Wednesday you can see KC legend Bob Walkenhorst perform everything from his beloved Rainmakers songs, to his more recent solo recording and also outstanding covers of rock classics. Also relatively big bands like Panic At The Disco played here on their first national tour. HYPERLINK "http://www.hurricanekc.com/"; This was once the place to see bands and I haven’t decided whether I just got older or the place changed owners. Check it out because my flavor is not everyone’s. HYPERLINK "http://www.crossroadskc.com/"; This is a brand new place but appears to be trying to bring Rock n’ Roll back to KC all by themselves. They just opened in May of 2007, and have already booked some huge national acts. FYI: The restaurant that opens up to this venue has great pizza and a very interesting crowd….I think they are art students Make sure you check out The Pitch Magazine (see above) for more details of who is playing and where they are playing. FOOD You will notice that we have far more than is listed here and I did make an effort to stay away from chains. Steaks KC is a great steak town, check out these hot spots. Hereford House: HYPERLINK "http://www.herefordhouse.com/"; http://www.herefordhouse.com/ Ruth’s Chris: HYPERLINK "http://www.ruthschris.com/locations/kansascitysteakhouse.html"; http://www.ruthschris.com/locations/kansascitysteakhouse.html Capital Grill: HYPERLINK "http://www.thecapitalgrille.com/Locations/KansasCity/Main.asp?Location=KansasCity"; http://www.thecapitalgrille.com/Locations/KansasCity/Main.asp?Location=KansasCity Golden Ox: HYPERLINK "http://www.goldenox.com/"; http://www.goldenox.com/ JJ’s Restaurant HYPERLINK "http://www.jjs-restaurant.com/"; http://www.jjs-restaurant.com/ Once rated as one of the best wine bars in the WORLD!!!! Also this place has great steaks. I have been in there and mentioned a type of flavor I want in wine and every time the bartenders get it right. OUTSTANDING FOOD TOO! BBQ Arthur Bryant’s BBQ: HYPERLINK "http://www.arthurbryantsbbq.com/index.htm"; http://www.arthurbryantsbbq.com/index.htm Oklahoma Joes: HYPERLINK "http://www.oklahomajoesbbq.com/"; http://www.oklahomajoesbbq.com/ Gates BBQ: HYPERLINK "http://www.gatesbbq.com/"; http://www.gatesbbq.com/ BB’s Lawnside: HYPERLINK "http://www.bbslawnsidebbq.com/"; http://www.bbslawnsidebbq.com/ Great place for live blues music KC Masterpiece: HYPERLINK "http://www.barbequekc.com/"; http://www.barbequekc.com/ It doesn’t end there. We have tons of BBQ restaurants. This list is also in order of where I would start, but if you ask another KC person they will list it differently. KC is KNOWN for its BBQ! Mexican Margarita’s: HYPERLINK "http://www.margaritaskansascity.com/home/"; http://www.margaritaskansascity.com/home/ Other: Just get on Southwest Boulevard you almost can’t go wrong. Italian Cascone’s: HYPERLINK "http://www.cascones.com/menu.cfm"; http://www.cascones.com/menu.cfm Garozzo’s: HYPERLINK "http://www.garozzos.com/"; http://www.garozzos.com/ There are far more but this is a GREAT start! Asian: Bo Lings: HYPERLINK "http://www.bolings.com/about.html"; http://www.bolings.com/about.html Taj Mahal: HYPERLINK "http://www.kctajmahal.com/welcome.htm"; http://www.kctajmahal.com/welcome.htm There is far more than this, but these are two of my favorites! Other Food and Stuff For more: HYPERLINK "http://www.kcrestaurantguide.com/"; http://www.kcrestaurantguide.com/ We have tons of great places. There are too many for me to mention and it all depends on what you like. I am just going to mention a few of the places that I think swing year in and year out. JP Wine Bar: HYPERLINK "http://www.jpwinebar.com/"; http://www.jpwinebar.com/ This is a really neat idea and has a really cool flavor. If you don’t know what a flight of wine or a flight of cheese is, check it out! Jodie’s: at roughly 62nd and Brookside (about 1 mile south of the Plaza) has great food and a great selection of wines. In the spring and summer the patio is open for a nice glass on a warm day. The Peanut: There are several of these KC institutions spread throughout town but I love the original one at about 50th and Main. Try the hot wings or the BLT, you can’t go wrong. If you want crazy nights of dancing on chairs and pure abandon you will get it almost every Friday and Saturday after about 10PM. Other times to be at this place; for any big sporting event and the Sundays of Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. The Point: 917 W. 44th KCMO. My friend Mike Flaherty is the owner. A good old fashioned neighborhood bar. Kennedy’s: This place burned down in January of 2007. When and where it reopens, definitely good folks. Charlie Hoopers: Roughly 63rd and Main. For the Europeans who hate American beer this is the place to go. They have over 100 varieties in bottles and a wide variety on tap. Good food too. Do a search, KC has a ton of good food! MUSEUMS & THE LIKE Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art HYPERLINK "http://www.nelson-atkins.org/"; http://www.nelson-atkins.org/ One of the largest collections of Chinese Art in the world. A very beautiful building too. Kemper Art Gallery HYPERLINK "http://www.kemperart.org/"; http://www.kemperart.org/ This gallery’s permanent collection includes the works of Polly Apfelbaum, Arthur Dove, Louise Bourgeois, Dale Chihuly, Damien Hirst, Andrew Wyeth, Fairfield Porter, Georgia O'Keeffe, Frank Stella, Lesley Dill, Romare Bearden, Christian Boltanski, Robert Mapplethorpe, Nikki S. Lee, Kojo Griffin, Matthew Ritchie, Wayne Thiebaud, Petah Coyne, Tom Otterness, and Hung Liu. Arabia Steamboat Museum: HYPERLINK "http://www.1856.com/"; http://www.1856.com/ Negro League Baseball Museum: HYPERLINK "http://www.nlbm.com/"; http://www.nlbm.com/ Toy & Miniature Museum: HYPERLINK "http://www.umkc.edu/tmm/"; http://www.umkc.edu/tmm/ Liberty Memorial Museum: HYPERLINK "http://www.libertymemorialmuseum.org/"; http://www.libertymemorialmuseum.org/ American Jazz Museum: HYPERLINK "http://www.americanjazzmuseum.com/"; http://www.americanjazzmuseum.com/ Union Station / KC Museum / Science City: HYPERLINK "http://www.unionstation.org/"; http://www.unionstation.org/ Remember to check out First Fridays for the latest in Art: HYPERLINK "http://www.kccrossroads.org/"; http://www.kccrossroads.org/ There are tons of galleries throughout KC Amusement Parks: Worlds of Fun: HYPERLINK "http://www.worldsoffun.com/"; http://www.worldsoffun.com/ Tons of Roller Coasters and rides for kids of all ages. Oceans of Fun: HYPERLINK "http://www.oceansoffun.org/front/index.htm"; http://www.oceansoffun.org/front/index.htm A water amusement park! SPORTING TEAMS: Football: THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS!!! HYPERLINK "http://www.kcchiefs.com/"; http://www.kcchiefs.com/ Baseball: For the Major Leagues you have The Royals HYPERLINK "http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=kc"; http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=kc or for the Minor Leagues the T-Bones HYPERLINK "http://www.tbonesbaseball.com/"; http://www.tbonesbaseball.com/ (I understand the T-Bones have a great family environment). Soccer/European Football: The Wizards HYPERLINK "http://kc.wizards.mlsnet.com/t105/index.jsp"; http://kc.wizards.mlsnet.com/t105/index.jsp Basketball: No professional team here yet, but the University of Kansas ( HYPERLINK "http://kuathletics.cstv.com/"; http://kuathletics.cstv.com/) and the University of Missouri ( HYPERLINK "http://mutigers.cstv.com/"; http://mutigers.cstv.com/) have prominent teams. The Big 12 Tournament and March Madness are kind of a big deal around here. If you like college basketball there are few better places than KC. Hockey: Sorry not that I am aware of. Car Racing: HYPERLINK "http://www.kansasspeedway.com/"; http://www.kansasspeedway.com/ This is one of the hot NASCAR locations in the US. GARDENING Pro H2O HYPERLINK "http://www.proh2oinc.net/"; http://www.proh2oinc.net/ If you need a sprinkler system call Jason Ryals. His wife works in research at KUMC also! Soil Service: I like these guys a lot and they are very helpful. They are at about 65th and Troost. Suburban Lawn & Garden: HYPERLINK "http://suburbanlg.com/soil.htm"; http://suburbanlg.com/soil.htm I hear great things about these folks. Tobin’s Lawn & Landscaping: This is a good company too. Parks & Rec: Kansas City, MO General Information: HYPERLINK "http://www.kcconvention.com/parks.nsf/web/home"; http://www.kcconvention.com/parks.nsf/web/home Overland Park, KS General Information: HYPERLINK "http://opkansas.org/_Res/Parks_and_Recreation/index.cfm"; http://opkansas.org/_Res/Parks_and_Recreation/index.cfm Kansas City, KS General Information: HYPERLINK "http://www.kckpl.lib.ks.us/wyco/parks/parks.html"; http://www.kckpl.lib.ks.us/wyco/parks/parks.html Top Choices: Loose Park (about a mile south of the Plaza), Swope Park (also the home of the zoo), Wyandotte County Lake, and Shawnee Mission Park! SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES Lawrence, KS: About an hour drive from downtown Kansas City. This is the home of University of Kansas (KU) a premier institution of the Midwest and one of the greatest college basketball traditions. Also Lawrence was the home for the great Beat writer William Burroughs for about the last 30 years of his life. KU has a great natural history museum and a fine art museum that I believe is the home to the complete works of the painter Alberto Vargas. For shopping and music definitely check out Lawrence’s Massachusetts Street. This is about a 15 block stretch of great bars, restaurants, and shops. If you are into music this is where a lot of hot young bands play. Weston, MO: If you want history, Irish Festivals, October Festivals, wineries, antiques, walking through pumpkin patches for Halloween, you cannot go wrong with this town. O’Malley’s is the place to start. This unique restaurant and bar was involved in the Freedom Railroad that moved slaves from the South to the North before the Civil War. Independence, MO: Home of The Presidential Library for President Harry S. Truman. Also the home Community of Christ HYPERLINK "http://www.cofchrist.org/"; http://www.cofchrist.org/ (formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints). Interesting note is Independence and Liberty holds a great deal of interest to the Church of Later Day Saints (also known as the Mormons or LDS). As the faith moved to Utah there is a great deal of history that happened here in KC including an imprisonment of LDS founder Joseph Smith in Liberty and the splitting of the Church in Independence. St. Joseph, MO: Sorry, honestly I don’t know much about St. Joe except that the only Mental Health Museum in the country is in St. Joe. I read that in the University of Kansas newspaper Parkville, MO: This is a neat little community just North and West of downtown KC. A lot of neat little shops. Wines of Missouri: Missouri use to be one of the largest wine producing states prior to prohibition. HYPERLINK "http://www.missouriwine.org/"; http://www.missouriwine.org/ It is coming back slowly but surely. Wines of Kansas: There are a few of them out there and even a few with some good bottles. HYPERLINK "http://www.winesofkansas.com/"; http://www.winesofkansas.com/
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