When we heard that Kansas City has a new mini-golf destination, we couldn’t wait to check it out. Crystal and I have long enjoyed a fun round of miniature golf. Prehistoric Putt, located at 13907 E. US Hwy 40 in Independence, is filled with some challenges that are unlike any we have seen before. We …
The National World War 1 Museum and Memorial is not a memorial to the war. This national treasure is a reminder of the human spirit and the never-ending fight for peace. Life in the trenches was filled with short periods of sheer terror followed by long spans of boredom. Stretching across the horizon, these muddy, rat-infested trenches …
Life in the Trenches – National World War 1 Museum Read More »
Opening a new barbecue in Kansas City is always risky business. With over 100 competitors already churning away, you’ll find yourself in an uphill battle. It’s like competing in the American Royal BBQ Contest every day. When a friend clued us in on a newcomer in North Kansas City, we just had to test it out. …
A historic Independence, Missouri visit wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the Harry S. Truman Library & Museum. Growing up in Kansas City, we were well aware of Truman’s ties to the area but had not really studied much about the man. Since the Truman Library had recently completed an overhaul, we felt it was …
Let’s time-travel back to 1957. The world was cast into the “Space Race” with the launch of Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite. In America, Jailhouse Rock was climbing the charts, while Elvis purchased Graceland. Frisbees first hit the market and The Music Man opened on Broadway. (You can read our article about the composer …
For decades, schoolchildren from around the metropolitan region made the annual field trip to the Kansas City Museum. I remember visiting during the time that it focused primarily on our hometown’s history. It also featured hundreds of taxidermized animals in lifelike settings. In 2008, the museum was closed for a complete renovation and repurposing. When …
How many times have you faced the seemingly unsurmountable task of choosing what to have for dinner? It would be nice if they put a variety of cuisines in one space, so you could pick and choose your favorite dishes. Well someone was listening to our suggestions and created Parlor KC. This glorified grownup food …
It feels a little repetitive to mention that we live in a city filled with amazing barbecue restaurants. While we may not have sandy beaches or snow-capped mountains, any given day can bring the smell of grilling meats wafting across the landscape. When we are looking for southern BBQ in Kansas City, we have a …
I have to admit that there’s a little kid in me that can come out at the most inopportune moments. To limit the silliness from becoming too rampant, I find it best to shower my inner child with periodic visits to kid-friendly attractions. Kansas City just happens to be home to quite a few of …
National Museum of Toys And Miniatures – Releasing My Inner Child Read More »
As I sit writing this article, my mind is wandering back to our table at HomeGrown Kansas City, located at 338 W. 63rd St. in KCMO. This Wichita-based restaurant broke ground in our hometown and has seen amazing success. It may just be their delectable pop tartlets, which are great paired with a cup of …
On our excursions to New Orleans, we have become accustomed to enjoying some of their amazing food dishes. While we participate in most every cuisine, it is the southern flair of Cajun and Creole that bring some of the best flavors to the table. When KC Daiquiri Shop had opened a second site, we were …
Kansas burst into the Union in an unusually bloody fashion. Human presence can be traced back to at least the 1400s. It would be the mid-1800s that saw the quick escalation of violence. The story of Bloody Kansas has been told many times, but we find each site sheds a little more perspective. The Johnson …
When people mention dining in Kansas City, many will think of barbecue. While it is certainly a popular subject in our hometown, it is far from the only cuisine to be found here. In fact, there are tons of great eats to be found tucked away all over town. Kansas City, Kansas is our neck …
Are there places that you’ve been meaning to visit for years? We faced that same situation right in our backyard. The Shawnee Indian Mission has been a destination we have discussed visiting for quite some time. It seems like some other stop would always push this place to the back burner. We finally said “enough …
Our visit to Fort Osage whisked us back over 200 years to a time when America was much smaller than it is today. Our nation’s freedom had been won in the American Revolution, and we were in the midst of a great expansion. The Louisiana Purchase had allowed the fledgling nation to increase its land …
A visit to the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop takes guests back over 150 years, to a time when the territory was just opening for business. With so much history at this site, we were scratching our heads wondering why we had never visited. Knowing that nothing can be done to change the past, we pushed ahead …
As Autumn descends on the Midwest, people will find an abundance of harvest-themed festivals. Welcoming Fall brings a change in the air, that signals the shortening of daylight hours. We find ourselves trying to savor every moment. Scanning the Kansas City calendar of events, we noticed the annual Fall Festival at Missouri Town 1855. Since …
On any given day you are likely to smell the aroma of barbecue in Kansas City. The very fabric of the community is saturated with the intoxicating scent. Breaking the barrier to become a successful BBQ restaurant in this town is no easy feat. Chef J has learned this lesson as the new kid in …
The end of a workweek is certainly a reason for a celebration. This particular week had been rather brutal, so it was an easy decision to add a Happy Hour event to our Friday evening excursion. We wanted something fresh and new, so plans were set for a visit to Tavern in the Village. Located …
Kansas City is filled with so many entertainment options that we struggle trying to cover them all. When our daughter suggested a brunch outing, I decided to look for something out of the ordinary. Since we are all lovers of art, a visit to the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art was a perfect fit. This …
Losing Their Voice – Kemper Museum Of Contemporary Art Read More »
It’s hard to remember how many times we have been floored at the idea of businesses launching at the height of the pandemic. We understand that once a ball gets rolling, you just have to see it through. Still, the idea of beginning during such an unstable market has to be frightening. When we spotted …
It saddens us when we hear about a local business having to shutter its doors. Unfortunately, this was an all too common occurrence in 2020. On a positive note, there were many new enterprises willing to take a risk during those uncertain times. One that evidently felt it best to let 2020 pass by is …
Breaking the BBQ barrier in Kansas City isn’t easy. On any given day, the smoky aroma of barbecue permeates the very fabric of the city. It isn’t reserved just for game days or the Fourth of July. Barbecue is the lifeblood of the city. The idea of launching a new restaurant in this atmosphere can …
For decades, the McLain family served the locals in and around the Waldo area. Three generations of the family-operated this local bakery, delivering pastries, bread, and cakes to eager customers. There would often be long lines waiting for their chance to snatch up some of the goodies. When the McLain family sold the business in …
When we heard that Denver Biscuit Company was coming to KC, images of fluffy mounds, covered in gravy, filled our thoughts. Little did we know, the reality would be fat stacks of folded biscuit bliss that would challenge our appetites. Our affinity for southern-style foods means that we love folded biscuits, although we never turn …
There are a few ways that you could describe the Drunken Worm. This hole-in-the-wall eatery looked to be barely there, from the street. Once we passed through the doorway, we discovered a cozy cantina filled with a variety of tequila and tacos. This Mexican cuisine destination sits at 1405 W. 39th Street and offers upwards …
They say that change is inevitable and that it is often for the better. While we sometimes find ourselves saddened by the loss of a familiar haunt, we try to accept it as fate. When McCoy’s Public House closed, after over 20 years, we were fearful that space would be lost for a long time. …
Like many of you, we enjoy a visit to our local city market. In fact, the historic City Market in Kansas City has been a staple of the downtown since 1857. The vibrant neighborhood that surrounds the market is filled with unique shops and restaurants. Going in search of a fun evening out, we planned …
To be successful in the restaurant business requires a high level of commitment. It helps when you have your priorities clearly determined. Franco Cupini is a man who is dedicated to friends, family, and food. His love for the restaurant business shines through when you see him working at his Westport eatery, Cupini’s. Franco was …
What draws you to a new restaurant? Over the past three years we have written articles for around 50 restaurants in the Kansas City metro. When you add in all of the other cities that number jumps to nearly 200 articles. Prior to starting this website, I hosted a restaurant blog that featured many more. …
It seems that people are coming up with new ways to re-purpose familiar items all of the time. Finding alternative uses for shipping containers seemed to be a logical next step. A visit to North Kansas City, Missouri showed us how one group of ingenious people had built a space that combines function and frugality …
Kansas City can be described in many ways, but we like to think of it as the “Melting Pot of the Midwest”. Within the boundaries of the metro, you can find nearly every ethnicity. This provides an amazing array of cultures, and they each bring their unique cuisine to the table. Diners can choose from …
Living in the landlocked Midwest has its pros and cons. While one of the biggest pluses is the amazing people in every city and town, there are things we miss at times. Traveling around North America has allowed us to sample a variety of cuisines and flavors from all corners of the continent. The tastes …
With the Stay at Home orders in place, you may have noticed an increased number of Asian restaurants in our blog lately. This has happened for two main reasons. First, we have recently discovered this amazing cuisine, so we are catching up on all of the great options around our hometown. The second reason is …
The sun shone brightly, casting its warmth on the cool May morning. Early shoppers arrived in downtown Kansas City to bring some normalcy back into their lives. With the Stay At Home orders being slowly rescinded, some of the public are venturing out to places that seem strangely familiar. We visited City Market to see …
Have you ever made an assumption about a business based on partial information? This has actually happened to us a few times. It often occurs because we have failed to thoroughly research. Let’s look at an example of such an oversight. We first noticed Lulu’s Noodles during our day trips to downtown Lawrence, Kansas. During …
We have been visiting D’Bronx Authentic Deli for years. Our introduction to this New York-style eatery came in the 1990s, which was not too long after they appeared on the landscape. Their 3904 Bell Street location has always been our go-to spot for handhelds and pizza pies. In fact, one celebration included an attempt to …
Handhelds And Pizza Pies – D’Bronx Authentic Deli Read More »
Living in the landlocked Midwest can limit our access to fresh seafood. Few places have the dedication to do the legwork required to keep this type of pipeline running. Fortunately, we have a delectable option right in our hometown. Jarocho Authentic Mexican Seafood is bringing the sea to KC. We have been advised of the …
Bringing The Sea to KC – Jarocho Authentic Mexican Seafood Read More »
The current reality has certainly added a few interesting twists to our dinner routine. Transitioning to carryout meals has forced us to think about the driving distance after we get our meal. Fortunately, we have a ton of options in close proximity, so our meals stay closer to serving temperature. Even the ones that are …
Spicing Up Carryout – Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken Read More »
We all have our home town favorites that seem to draw us back over and over. For some, it may be the atmosphere or the feeling of nostalgia. One thing that is usually required is the ability to deliver a consistent meal that we can count on time after time. Living in a larger metropolitan …
As we approach the one month mark, since our hometown implemented the “Stay At Home” rule, we find ourselves adapting to this new reality. While we all hope it is temporary, we know that there is the possibility that it will remain around, in some form, for many months. In the meantime, we are working …
There is a lot of uncertainty floating around Kansas City right now. We find ourselves in the middle of the Covid-19 shutdown. Businesses are learning how to adapt to this new paradigm. While many have reduced hours and even scaled back their menus, others have temporarily closed. That is the case for Green Room Burgers …
Green Room Burgers & Beers – The Sun Will Shine Again Read More »
How many of you are ready to get back to some sort of normal life? Crystal and I love to visit new restaurant destinations, but this “curbside only” situation is putting a damper on our exploration. Fortunately, we have a good backlog of places we had already visited, so we can keep supplying some new …
As I sit and write this article, we are currently under self-imposed isolation called “social distancing”. While the subject is near and dear to everyone at this stage, I have to wonder what readers will think when they return to this particular article in two or three years. How will our daily interactions change, once …
Sunshine and Social Distancing – Ha Ha Tonka State Park Read More »
Living in Kansas City, Kansas means that we are blessed to have the best Mexican cuisine options in the Midwest. Our hometown is known far and wide for being the home to numerous taquerias (taco stores), carnicerias (meat stores), and cantinas (bar & grills). When you add in the panaderias (bakeries), you expand the list …
Living in a city filled with amazing food and drink destinations means that the options always outweigh the opportunities. With the winter weather releasing its grip on Kansas City, it’s time for us to spend more time exploring. Over the colder months, we make note of places we pass and add them to our “future …
When we heard that Snooze A.M. Eatery was planning a Kansas city location, it brought a smile to our faces. We enjoy a standard breakfast as much as the next couple, but the chance to start your morning with a twist makes it extra special. This funky and friendly Denver-based chain has a reputation for …
Start Your Morning With A Twist – Snooze A.M. Eatery Read More »
What happens when you gather six chefs all under one roof? You end up with an upscale food court, like the one at Strang Hall, in downtown Overland Park. The idea for this chef collective came from a desire to add a new twist to the dining scene. This collection of restaurants allows the locals …
Variety keeps life from becoming boring. You can imagine what it would be like if every museum was exactly the same. Each would hold the same static displays and spout the same factoids. Fortunately, this isn’t the case. Each history museum has its own approach to telling stories from the past. We also have a …
Seeing The Details – Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Read More »
We have to believe that we are not much different than most of our readers. Like others, we enjoy a good meal, and trying new restaurants is usually a fun experience. During the winter, we find ourselves having brunch more often. A good example was a stop in Room 39, located at 1719 W. 39th …
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