Kansas City Advice

Flies? Buuuullll-shiiiiiiit. That's ambiance, brother.

 

Buy as much Gates BBQ sauce as your car will hold to take back to the frozen north.

There's a Chichen place called Strouds somewhere. I think it's supposed to be pretty good. The two times I went there I was too drunk to remember.

 

Much easier than wrapping the bottles in bubble wrap, packing it in your checked luggage and praying, which is what I do a couple of times a year now. Freakin' no-liquids carryon rules.

Totally worth it to know I always have some on hand, though.

 

I'd also recommend Stroud's

http://www.stroudsrestaurant.com/

 

I can't believe Oz hasn't posted on this one yet.

Gates - yes.

Arthur Bryant's - yes.

Sample a few beers at Boulevard Brewing. If you have some spare coin, hit the riverboat casinos. If you want a good steak, go to Hereford House. If you've got extra time, zip over to Lawrence and check out Allen Field House and then walk down Massachusetts Ave.

 

If you like jazz at all, go to 18th and Vine, drink till 6 a.m. Sunday and then go tailgate.

If you go to Gates, get the burnt ends. Mmmmm.

 

For college football the weekend of the 18th, the pickings are slim.

Kansas, Kansas State, Nebraska and Mizzou are all on the road. However, Nebraska is at Iowa State on the 18th, and that is (kind of) on your way down. If it's an early game, you might be in luck. It's a little over 3 hours from Ames to KC.

But catching a night game in Ames and making it to KC for a noon kickoff might be less than enjoyable.

 

Lots of good suggestions on here, but I'd add checking out the Nelson Atkins if you're in to art stuff at all. Also, for nightlife, the Power and Light District (right across the street from the Sprint Center) is an amazing place with a piano bar (Howl at the Moon), a really cool bowling alley/lounge (Lucky Strike) and a bunch of other bars/clubs.

 

I'm going to have KCSJ on my ass for this, but I went to Gates when I was in KC in January.

Didn't like it. Didn't even finish it.

I think it had less to do with the quality of the food as much as the fact I discovered at that moment I prefer southern-style BBQ and ribs. There's a KC-style place in my town and I don't like it either.

 

KC-style sucks. Never been a fan.

 

I'd say pick up LC' s Barbecue on the way to the Chiefs game, but like any good BBQ restaurant, it's closed so that everyone can go to church. Which is where you should be, you soullless heathen.

 

I don't get some people. The worst BBQ joint in KC is better than any of the crap I found when I was living in North Carolina.