I'm going to Kansas City...

[Minnesota Mike]

I think there is a song like that, but maybe not.

As it turns out, I am actually going to Kansas City this weekend. A couple of musician friends of mine are playing down there this weekend (both Friday night and Saturday night), and I've been able to arrange it so I can break away with them. I think officially, my title for the weekend will be either "Tour manager" or "Road manager". They will decide in the car on the way. Basically this means I get to sit at the bar and drink while they play somewhere other than here. It's a pretty good job, if you can get.

But anyway, we will have some free time on our hands on Saturday between waking up (probably around noon) and when they take the stage on Saturday night around 8 or 9. So if anybody has any suggestions on fun things to do there, let me know. Also if anybody out there is in the KC area, feel free to come on down.

[CNYSkinFan]

Kansas City, Kansas City here I come
Kansas City, Kansas City here I come
Got some pretty little women there, I'm gonna get me one


It is a blues song called Kansas City and if you here it it will stay with you for a very very long time.

[budman]

I think there is a song like that, but maybe not.

As it turns out, I am actually going to Kansas City this weekend. A couple of musician friends of mine are playing down there this weekend (both Friday night and Saturday night), and I've been able to arrange it so I can break away with them. I think officially, my title for the weekend will be either "Tour manager" or "Road manager". They will decide in the car on the way. Basically this means I get to sit at the bar and drink while they play somewhere other than here. It's a pretty good job, if you can get.

But anyway, we will have some free time on our hands on Saturday between waking up (probably around noon) and when they take the stage on Saturday night around 8 or 9. So if anybody has any suggestions on fun things to do there, let me know. Also if anybody out there is in the KC area, feel free to come on down.

Much of the city's nightlife can be found downtown, in Westport, and at Country Club Plaza. For information about what's going on in jazz and blues clubs, pick up the free weekly Pitch; or call the Jazz Hotline (tel. 816/753-5277). For tickets to main events, call Ticketmaster (tel. 816/931-3330; www.ticketmaster.com).


Phoenix Piano Bar & Grill, downtown at 302 W. 8th St. (tel. 816/472-0001; www.phoenixjazz.net), specializes in Kansas City-style jazz, seafood, and steaks, while the nearby Majestic Steakhouse, 931 Broadway (tel. 816/471-8484), offers jazz nightly. Jardine's Restaurant & Jazz Club, 45436 Main St., near Country Club Plaza (tel. 816/561-6480; www.jardines4jazz.com), offers live jazz nightly and New American regional cuisine. Club at Plaza III, in Country Club Plaza at 4749 Pennsylvania (tel. 816/753-0000), features live jazz and a full menu, including steaks.

In the historic 18th and Vine District, the best spots offering live blues and jazz include the Blue Room, 1600 E. 18th St. (tel. 816/474-2929; www.americanjazzmuseum.com), a smoke-free venue (the better to protect its displays of jazz memorabilia) featuring jazz on Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday; and the Mutual Musicians Foundation, 1823 Highland Ave. (tel. 816/471-5212), a National Historic Landmark where musicians have been meeting for decades to jam after midnight -- Fridays it's blues, Saturdays it's jazz.

In Westport, Blayney's, 415 Westport Rd. (tel. 816/561-3747; www.blayneys.com), offers blues, jazz, R&B, and rock Tuesday to Saturday in a pub setting; while the Grand Emporium, 3832 Main St. (tel. 816/531-7557; www.grandemporium.com), is one of Kansas City's best-known venues for blues but also features reggae, jazz, ethnic, and alternative music. Farther south, barbecue meets the blues at B. B.'s Lawn Side Bar-B-Que, 1205 E. 85th St. (tel. 816/822-7427; www.bbslawnsidebbq.com), with live blues Wednesday to Sunday nights.

Riverboat Gambling -- Riverboat gambling takes place on non-cruising boats along the banks of the Missouri River, including Argosy, Route 9 and I-635, Riverside (tel. 816/746-3144); Harrah's Casino, U.S. 210 and Chouteau Trafficway, North Kansas City (tel. 800/HARRAHS); Ameristar Casino, I-435 and Route 210 (tel. 816/414-7000); and the Isle of Capri Casino, off I-35 at 1800 E. Front St. (tel. 816/855-7777).

wish i was going . . . i've been there a couple of times . . . fun town . . . have a great trip. . . be safe

[RedskinRyan]

go to a royals game? oh wait, you said fun...

[Minnesota Mike]

go to a royals game? oh wait, you said fun...

Royals are in Detroit this weekend. We already looked in to that.

Budman, thanks for the night life suggestions, but each night I'll be at the joint my musician buddies will be playing, so that won't be an option. But the riverboat casino during the afternoon might be.

[HAWGZHEAD]

Kansas City, Kansas City here I come
Kansas City, Kansas City here I come
Got some pretty little women there, I'm gonna get me one


It is a blues song called Kansas City and if you here it it will stay with you for a very very long time.Good ol Fats Domino.

[redskin_rich]

For lunch, let me recommend Little Jake's Eat It and Beat It. I've never been there but I use their chicken wing recipe almost exclusively on my grill. Go there and try their wings, I am sure you'll love them.

[AGibbsGirl]

Hubbo, Angel and I have had an on going battle about the Kansas City Chiefs and where their stadium is since last season. Angel and I said KC Missouri and Hubbo insist its KC, Kansas.
For some reason no one looked it up, and it was only when we went to Mexico and the kids met a friend from KC, Missouri who told him that, "Yes, Arrowhead stadium is in Missouri." That Hubbo finally conceded defeat.

Don't know why I choose to share that...:havefun:

[Minnesota Mike]

I made it there and back safely (about 6.5 hours each way) and had a great time while I was there. My buddies played two great nights. The bar was packed both nights and the bar owner was very happy to have them. He wants them to come back more often.

During the down time (Saturday Afternoon) one of the waitresses from the bar drove us out to Lawrence, Kansas - about 20 mins away. It was super hot (100 degrees) but we checked a bunch of stores, including a couple of music stores for some new gear. After that we went to a BBQ for a guy in the Army who is heading over to Iraq in a week or so. We had to leave the BBQ before it was over so my buddies could play. But the entire BBQ came down to the bar later and helped make it a great night there too.

All in all, it was a good weekend, but I am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight.