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Posts from the ‘#KC’ Category

Apr 25

Celebrate Mom This Mother’s Day, Kansas City Style

This article originally appeared on KCParent.com as part of their 100 Days of Summer Blog (http://ow.ly/kojE8) by Kristina Light

momdayslide

Make a Gift for Mom

  • Mother’s Day Paint Me a Story at Paint, Glaze & Fire (12683 Metcalf Avenue Overland Park, KS)
    May 1 from 6-7pm or May 3 from 10:30-11:30am. Read the book, “I Love You More” and make a project for mom! Come to Paint, Glaze and Fire to paint a special pottery project that goes along with a favorite children’s book.  A wonderful time for parents (grandparents or nanny) and children to listen to a story and paint together! $15.00 includes ceramic piece & snack.  $13 for additional siblings. Ages 2+. Spaced Limited 12 kids. Call 913.661.CLAY(2529) for reservations.
  • Mother’s Day Planters at Mill Creek Activity Center/ Natureplay Preschool (6518 Vista Drive Shawnee, KS)
    May 10, 2013 from 9:30 am until 11:00 am. For this class, please bring one small container—an old shoe! Any size will do. We’ll make a flowering gift for mom. Class will meet at the Mill Creek Activity Center.  $12 per child. Call 913.826.2958 to register. Read more

Apr 16

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Five Great Places to Enjoy the Outdoors in KC

Kansas City has finally kicked its winter habit and it’s time to enjoy the great outdoors! VisitKC guest blogger Diana Lambdin Meyer (@mojotraveler) takes you around the city and where to enjoy some of our wonderful parks.

After the shellacking Kansas City received from Mother Nature this past winter, we’re all ready to get out and enjoy SPRING!  I am so tired of exercising indoors and fortunately Kansas City has the perfect cure for cabin fever and couch potato butt.  Here are my five favorites.  Hope to see you out there along the trail.

Berkley Riverfont Park

Berkley Riverfont Park

I live in Parkville, just north of downtown, and love the trail at English Landing Park right along the Missouri River.  With a heavy canopy of cottonwood trees and a view of beautiful McKay Hall at Park University, the energy here is contagious. The three-mile crushed limestone trail loops around the soccer and baseball fields, past the playground and band shelter, never with the powerful Missouri River more than a few feet away. Read more

Apr 11

Step Behind the Scenes of 7 Kansas City Movies

Whether based on actual events or pure make believe, several feature films have focused on Kansas City and the lives of people who have lived here. And much to the delight of moviegoers, there’s plenty to see after the credits roll. Go behind the scenes of these seven films by retracing the people and places in Kansas City that inspired them.

  1. “42”— Opening nationwide on April 12, this feature film tells the story of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier in 1947 and was the first African American to play Major League Baseball. Before he wore jersey no. 42 for the Dodgers, he was no. 5 for the Kansas City Monarchs. Learn more about Jackie and other legends at KC’s Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. The day before the national release, film star Harrison Ford will present a special advance screening of “42” in Kansas City to benefit the museum and the Kansas City Sports Commission. (Tickets are sold out. For more information, visit 42KansasCity.com.)
  1. “Amelia” (2009)—This biopic stars Oscar winner Hilary Swank in the role of Atchison, Kan., native Amelia Earhart. Known as one of the world’s most celebrated aviators, Earhart was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. The Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum in Atchison provides an insightful look at the pilot’s early life, from childhood mementos to family photos, plus information about her 1937 disappearance. The city’s Amelia Earhart Festival each July celebrates her legacy with aviation displays, aerobatic performances and live concerts. Read more

Apr 8

Opening Day at the K!

Ed Note: VisitKC is happy to welcome new guest blogger Jenny Vergara (@jvergara) as she  walks you through some game-day eats at Kauffman Stadium.

Royals vs Mariners
There is truly nothing like opening day at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. That’s when our boys in blue, the Kansas City Royals, take to the baseball field for the first home game of the season. It is simply impossible not to get caught up in the action. In the morning, as you make your coffee, you notice it’s all the local morning news programs can discuss. On every street corner, on your way to work, you will see people standing in the center median waving newspapers in the air and shouting. They are selling the local Kansas City Star newspaper, just like the old newspaper boys did.  Inside the paper, is a special section dedicated to the Kansas City Royals opening day. Of course, everyone is wearing royal blue and white, as folks dust off their Royals apparel and wear it with pride on opening day. Many people in Kansas City actually take the day off from work to head to the ballpark early to start tailgating. If you are one of the unfortunate souls headed in to work, you will notice as game time approaches the people in your office will begin to thin, as most will sneak off to catch the first pitch of the season either at the ballpark or at the local watering hole close to the office. There is an undeniable energy in Kansas City on opening day that fuels the city for the coming season. It is a day reserved for baseball . . .and it’s fans. But what about it’s food? Read more

Mar 13

Big 12 Championship in Kansas City: Five Tips for Basketball Fans

Big 12 Festivities at Power & Light District

Big 12 Festivities at Power & Light District

1. Get your hands on some great seats

An additional block of all-session tickets has been made available for the general public. The purchasing opportunity is available at SprintCenter.com while supplies last. Upper-level tickets are $195 and lower-level are $330, with a maximum purchase of four all-session tickets per person.

2. Be a part of the game day atmosphere

The official fan fest, Big 12 GameDay presented by Phillips 66, will be located just outside Sprint Center on Grand Boulevard. The free, interactive experience will feature basketball challenges, music, mascots, autograph opportunities and promotional giveaways from the conference’s corporate partners. Go to VisitKC.com/Big12Basketball for a schedule.

3. Mix and mingle with other basketball fans

Pierre Jackson - Baylor

Pierre Jackson – Baylor

Just across the street from the Championship action at Sprint Center is the Kansas City Power & Light District—eight blocks of restaurants, nightclubs and entertainment venues. All week long, basketball fans can enjoy free live entertainment during the district’s Miller Lite Basketball Fan Fest. Cheer on your favorite teams at pep rallies inside KC Live!—the heated, open-air venue inside the district. Go to powerandlightdistrict.com for a complete list of live entertainment. 

 4. Take your spirit to the streets

Kansas City’s Inaugural Big 12 5K Fun Run & Family Stroll will take place on Saturday, March 16.  Set in the heart of Big 12 Country, the 5K course will wind around downtown Kansas City through the Power & Light District.  The overall male and female winners will receive $1,000 in free gas from Phillips 66 and be recognized at Championship final.  More info at kcbig12run.com.

5. Test your skills at a hoops hall of fame

Rev up your basketball weekend at The College Basketball Experience. Named one of the nation’s top five interactive museums by Wired magazine, this hands-on facility recreates the intensity of a college basketball game—from foul-line hecklers to last-second buzzer beaters. Show your Big 12 ticket to save $2 on admission. For a schedule of extended March hours, go to collegebasketballexperience.com.

Read more

Feb 19

Restaurants Reimagined: 7 Local Eateries with Charming Backstories

The Rieger Hotel Grill & Exchange

  • The Rieger Hotel Grill & Exchange is a former prohibition-era hotel now serving farm-to-table fare.

    The Rieger Hotel Grill & Exchange is a former prohibition-era hotel now serving farm-to-table fare.

    Then: Opened in 1915 by the son of whiskey distributor Jacob Rieger, the property was known as a “travelers’” hotel, welcoming railroad workers and traveling salesmen.

  • Now: There’s no longer room at the inn, but visitors will find a hopping restaurant serving farm-to-table fare in the Crossroads Arts District. It also houses Manifesto, a modern speakeasy, in the basement.
  • Taste: Chef Howard Hanna has a passion for the pig. Any pork dish is sure to be outstanding.
  • History Connection: Classic cocktails and the original black-and-white tile floor hark back to days gone by, as does the restored mural on the brick exterior. Just as the turn-of-the-century ad for Reiger whiskey suggests, everything inside is “O! So Good.” Read more

Feb 5

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Celebrate Black History Month in Kansas City

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum_024_LAAll across Kansas City, schools and businesses take time to recognize the contributions of African-Americans as February is Black History month. Several area attractions pay tribute to African Americans this month and all year long. Below is list of special celebrations for the month and on-going exhibits that commemorate KC’s black history.

Special Exhibits

Black Archives of Mid-America in Kansas City

  • Feb. 1 – Poetry Slam, local artists, 6 p.m.
  • Feb. 23 – “Separate to Equal,” this documentary screening chronicles the history of African- American health care in Kansas City. Panel discussion to follow, 3 p.m.

All events held at The Black Archives of Mid-America in Kansas City, 1722 E. 17th Terr. More information available at www.blackarchives.org.

The National Archives at Kansas City

  • Feb. 8 – Genealogy workshop, “United States Colored Troops During the Civil War,” discusses African-American ancestors and their contributions to the Union during the Civil War, 10 a.m.
  • Feb. 20 – Genealogy workshop, “Exploring Civil Rights in the Holding of the National Archives,” will explore the vast array of civil rights court cases that document the struggle for civil rights and demonstrate the wrongs that took years to overcome in the holdings of the National Archives,  noon.
  • Feb. 21 – Genealogy workshop, “African-American Census Research,” discusses the challenges of tracking free and slave African-American ancestors in the 1880s, 1 p.m. Read more

Dec 18

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Top 10 Reasons to Visit Kansas City in 2013

Earlier this year, Budget Travel magazine named Kansas City one of its Top 10 Budget Travel Destinations for 2012, touting the region as a “hotbed for high culture.” And while the year may be drawing to close, it certainly doesn’t mean the buzz for KC is subsiding.

Here are 10 reasons why the excitement for Kansas City will continue well into the New Year.

Dec 11

12 Days of Kansas City: Our Favorite Things

Ask anyone what are some of their favorite things, chances are they can rattle off four or five items without hesitation. Sometimes it’s a favorite blanket to something as distant as a favorite destination but we all have them.

As passionate Kansas Citians, we have our list favorite things – some quirkier than others – but none the less, these unique gift ideas can satisfy any sweet tooth or add some extra KC style into your life.

bbq_bib

Baby’s First Bib

Baby’s First BBQ Bib – locally printed and universally cute, these clever catch-alls by Normal Human recognize one important truth – you’re never too young to start enjoying KC’s signature food.


Long Shot Whiskey – handcrafted in Lenexa by Dark Horse Distillery, this artisanal white whiskey uses a sour mash recipe that it is a little oud and a lot bold


Catnip Cigars – you’re right. The top-selling item at Gatos Cat Boutique is this conversation starter. Made of “world’s strongest catnip,” your feline friend is sure to look like a boss.

Read more

Dec 3

Shop in Style Around Kansas City This Holiday Season

Of course, we don’t want you to shop until you drop, but it’s truly possible with the distinct shopping districts available in Kansas City. The city’s shopping areas offer fashion’s favorite labels, fun and funky gifts, high style and affordable prices.  But what sets Kansas City apart as a shopping destination is the experience each district creates for the visitor, making finding the perfect gift fun for everyone! Whatever your tastes, we have it all in Kansas City.

Downtown Kansas City

The Crossroads Arts District for unique stocking stuffers like handmade stationery from Hammerpress or artisanal chocolates  from Christopher Elbow. In the Power & Light District, look to Envolve for chic women’s styles or shop eight stores in one at The Garment District—a hip fashion collective with a bar nestled inside.

A little further north of downtown and straight out of the mind of Dr. Seuss, City Market transforms itself for Whoville Holidays, a yuletide celebration featuring The Grinch, art activities and a Cindy Lou Who look-alike contest.

After a long afternoon shopping the avenues of downtown KC, it’s time for a light meal. Venture off the beaten path to the Westside area. Popular picks range from small plates at Power and Light District_040_AALill’s on 17th and savory crepes at Chez Elle, to farm-to-table fare at The Westside Local.

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