I'll be there from Monday through Thursday next week on business. What are some must see/must do's? Any night life? Things NOT to do?  

IM FanoftheBlackRifle...I think he grew up there.

Habla, and go well armed into the night. ETA my Mom's family is from KCKS, so I've been there many times since 1972. Avoid the rough areas. There's some excellent BBQ if you don't mind losing your hubcaps in the process.

I have been there twice on business. The first time three years ago I stayed downtown. Absolutely nothing going on. Desrted after 5:00pm. The second time was this June. I stayed at Crown Center. Shops and restaurants at the center, Union Station, and nearby. I stuffed myself with KC BBQ at a couple of restaurants. Also a World I memorial and museum  across the street which is well worth the time.

Night life is good, best easy place to go is Westport and its the bar district although theres some very good bars all over the place. Crown Center area is really cool if you like shopping, The Plaza is also worth a visit but its a pretty rizty place so i dont go there much. I'm a cheap bastard.
Union Station is definately worth checking out as well, the zoo is kinda a let down though so I'd bypass that.
Whats your flavor? Harcore drinking? Social boozin? Drugs n hookers? We have some casinos too (The boats) if you like gambling. Dennys Guns is also in the KC area if you need any AR type stuff.

I'll be staying adjacent to Bartle Hall Convention Center, but I'll have a rental car.  There are "rough" areas in KC??

If you don't have anything nice to say ...........

Quoted: I'll be staying adjacent to Bartle Hall Convention Center, but I'll have a rental car.  There are "rough" areas in KC??

Yes

Quoted: Quoted: I'll be staying adjacent to Bartle Hall Convention Center, but I'll have a rental car.  There are "rough" areas in KC?? Yes

Keep in mind I work in Baltimore daily.  

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I'll be staying adjacent to Bartle Hall Convention Center, but I'll have a rental car.  There are "rough" areas in KC?? Yes Keep in mind I work in Baltimore daily.

Keep in mind crime isnt limited to Baltimore.

KC may not be Baltimore, but it aint an Amish community either.

Denny's guns!!!

Don't wander around any where you might be tempted at night in the area surrounding down town.  Westport, the Plaza and Crown Center will be OK... but anyplace West (KCKS), South (past Crown Center/Plaza), East (almost anyplace between down town and Indepencence) is a very bad idea.  North is not so bad... but not much reason to go that direction at night... residential and typical neighborhood stuff.  DO NOT go walking down town at night or during the weekend.  Nothing open you want to be near unless you want to hang out with druggies, homeless and other borderline undesirables.  If you feel you need to walk... drive to the Plaza and walk around.

BTW, tag!

I have to run it by the wife to see whats on the agenda this week, but if it works out we could go have a beer Wednesday.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I'll be staying adjacent to Bartle Hall Convention Center, but I'll have a rental car.  There are "rough" areas in KC?? Yes Keep in mind I work in Baltimore daily.

You'll be fine.

I work in downtown KC and I'm a criminal defense attorney there.  I keep quite busy.  We've only had 83 murders on the year so far, last night it was two kids who got shot over a pickup basketball game.  A third teen is in custody for the shootings and I may meet him Wednesday depending on docketing.  

The BBQ is great.  Try Gates if you want a cultural experience.  Jack Stack is closer to Bartle and is a little 'spensive but DAMN good.  You can get good Mexican food on Southwest Blvd. in the Mexican part of town, just go where all the murals of Che are and find a mexican joint, my fave is Taqueria Mexicana.  I don't have court Thursday, if you tell me when you get a break from business maybe I can buy you lunch.

As far as nightlife goes, if you're under 25, or can hang with that age group, Westport is the place to go.
If you're a little older, and like dressing up, The Plaza is pretty good.

I've lived here for almost 10 months, and I'm moving away as soon as my lease is up, if that tells you anything...

Quoted: I work in downtown KC and I'm a criminal defense attorney there.  I keep quite busy.  We've only had 83 murders on the year so far, last night it was two kids who got shot over a pickup basketball game.  A third teen is in custody for the shootings and I may meet him Wednesday depending on docketing.   The BBQ is great.  Try Gates if you want a cultural experience.  Jack Stack is closer to Bartle and is a little 'spensive but DAMN good.  You can get good Mexican food on Southwest Blvd. in the Mexican part of town, just go where all the murals of Che are and find a mexican joint, my fave is Taqueria Mexicana.  I don't have court Thursday, if you tell me when you get a break from business maybe I can buy you lunch.

I prefer Ponaks myself.

I'll be arriving a little after noon on Monday, and have nothing planned for the rest of that day once I'm checked in. Tuesday through Thursday will be completely busy until around 5:00PM, and I'm leaving Thursday departing around 7:00PM so Thursday looks like a wash.  

Duke Nukem - did I meet you at the BRC a few years ago?

Re BBQ, Arthur Bryant's all the way.
Ollie Gates is a big time Democrat supporter which is reason enuff for me to never eat there.

Quoted: Re BBQ, Arthur Bryant's all the way. Ollie Gates is a big time Democrat supporter which is reason enuff for me to never eat there.

I didn't know that about the Gates family supporting the Dems but I wouldn't expect anything else.  I just enjoy getting yelled at by black people while I'm trying to order, it keeps my skills up for the rest of my day so I don't break my stride mentally during my lunch hour.  Its a mindset thing.

Gus, I did go to the original and only BRC years ago.  I had just started law school and had no money, I camped out on the grounds and didn't shower the whole time.  I brought one gun, a USP Tactical that I wore everywhere with great pride as they had just come out at the time.  I've put on some years, a few pounds, and added some firearms to the collection since then.  But I'm still broke.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I'll be staying adjacent to Bartle Hall Convention Center, but I'll have a rental car.  There are "rough" areas in KC?? Yes Keep in mind I work in Baltimore daily.

Keep in mind that KC is often featured on homocide cop shows.  

There is a reason.

As for nightlife, head to the plaza. Probably the safest, with Westport being a runner up. If you are staying downtown (dont' hang out there btw), it's a straight shot down broadway or main.

Quoted: Quoted: Re BBQ, Arthur Bryant's all the way. Ollie Gates is a big time Democrat supporter which is reason enuff for me to never eat there. I didn't know that about the Gates family supporting the Dems but I wouldn't expect anything else.  I just enjoy getting yelled at by black people while I'm trying to order, it keeps my skills up for the rest of my day so I don't break my stride mentally during my lunch hour.  Its a mindset thing. Gus, I did go to the original and only BRC years ago.  I had just started law school and had no money, I camped out on the grounds and didn't shower the whole time.  I brought one gun, a USP Tactical that I wore everywhere with great pride as they had just come out at the time.  I've put on some years, a few pounds, and added some firearms to the collection since then.  But I'm still broke.

I remember you!  We talked for a while at the F/A rental place - you were still in school.  Don't worry, lawyers don't stay broke for very long!

Well I'm not waiting, with the help of a couple other guys I'm starting an FFL/SOT in my hometown (safely in the country an hour east of KC) as a nights and weekends project.  We should be open for business by the end of next month if the feds are happy with our application, and hopefully in a couple of years the public defender stuff will seem like charity work compared to my massive dealings in small arms!

[insert evil laugh here]

Stay away from Prospect Street after dark.  :)

I worked in the ER at Truman Medical Center - West for a couple of years.  Parts of downtown KC can get pretty exciting at night.  Lots of bullets and knives.

Most folks only find trouble when they are looking for it, in my experience there.

The old saying of Northlanders was "don't go South of the river after dark" was a bit overstated IMO...

Kansas City, overall is not a bad town.

Quoted: Quoted: I work in downtown KC and I'm a criminal defense attorney there.  I keep quite busy.  We've only had 83 murders on the year so far, last night it was two kids who got shot over a pickup basketball game.  A third teen is in custody for the shootings and I may meet him Wednesday depending on docketing.   The BBQ is great.  Try Gates if you want a cultural experience.  Jack Stack is closer to Bartle and is a little 'spensive but DAMN good.  You can get good Mexican food on Southwest Blvd. in the Mexican part of town, just go where all the murals of Che are and find a mexican joint, my fave is Taqueria Mexicana.  I don't have court Thursday, if you tell me when you get a break from business maybe I can buy you lunch. I prefer Ponaks myself.

Mmmmm...Ponaks margaritas and tacos with queso...no better way to start a night out on the town

Quoted: Keep in mind that KC is often featured on homocide cop shows.   There is a reason. As for nightlife, head to the plaza. Probably the safest, with Westport being a runner up. If you are staying downtown (dont' hang out there btw), it's a straight shot down broadway or main.

Understood. My point was that I know better than to go wandering around on foot.

FWIW, I think they are too scared to put a Cops film crew in Baltimore. Never seen one episode filmed there, but I might have just missed it.  We're #1 in murders most years, and definately one of the most "cultural" cities around.  

What about stuff to see by day? Monday is wide open for some sight seeing. Doesn't necessarily have to be downtown.

Quoted: Well I'm not waiting, with the help of a couple other guys I'm starting an FFL/SOT in my hometown (safely in the country an hour east of KC) as a nights and weekends project.  We should be open for business by the end of next month if the feds are happy with our application, and hopefully in a couple of years the public defender stuff will seem like charity work compared to my massive dealings in small arms! [insert evil laugh here]

[Burns]Excellent.....Smithers, fetch me that RPD and a few belts!![/Burns]

I'm out here in kansas City too. It's a long ways from california. Been doing work here for the past 2 months now. Things to see...Cabelas and next door is furniture mart. I think its cool. Go stay at the Wolf lodge next to cabelas. I don't go out too much so I don't know the night life. I stay at a real nice hotel in Overland park called the Holtze. Nice!!!



But I'm home sick

Quoted: Quoted: Re BBQ, Arthur Bryant's all the way. Ollie Gates is a big time Democrat supporter which is reason enuff for me to never eat there. I didn't know that about the Gates family supporting the Dems but I wouldn't expect anything else.  I just enjoy getting yelled at by black people while I'm trying to order, it keeps my skills up for the rest of my day so I don't break my stride mentally during my lunch hour.  Its a mindset thing.

IIRC every US President in recent memory (Repub & Dem) who has visited KC has gone to Bryant's....except when Klinton visited town.  He had to eat at Gates instead.  

The original Bryant's at 18th & Brooklyn is the one to go to IMHO.  

Quoted: I'm out here in kansas City too. It's a long ways from california. Been doing work here for the past 2 months now. Things to see...Cabelas and next door is furniture mart. I think its cool. Go stay at the Wolf lodge next to cabelas. I don't go out too much so I don't know the night life. I stay at a real nice hotel in Overland park called the Holtze. Nice!!! But I'm home sick

I'm at the Radisson downtown - already booked by the corporate travel dweebs.

ETA - keep`em coming! I'll print this thread and take it with me.

Umm, there's this little sporting goods store about 11 miles down 70 into Kansas.  I think it is called Cabelas.  Yep, that's it.  A Cabelas superstore.  

You can kill an evening walking around in there, and there are a couple of BBQ restaraunts nearby, too.

Man, I can't believe you guys forgot about Cabelas.  Good thing the St. Louis guys are around to remind you what's in your backyard.  

ETA:  Darn!  223DEVIL beat me to it.  I type too slow.

Re other eating places:

Whenever I'm actually in the city during the day I like to stop at La Sala's deli on 5th st (little hole in the wall Italian place) & get a bigassed sub sammich.  Whole loaf Richboy or Supreme=3 or 4 seperate meals.    

Quoted: Re other eating places: Whenever I'm actually in the city during the day I like to stop at La Sala's deli on 5th st (little hole in the wall Italian place) & get a bigassed sub sammich.  Whole loaf Richboy or Supreme=3 or 4 seperate meals.

Oh, SNAP! I used to eat 3-4 sausage sammiches a week from LaSala's when I worked at 3rd & Charlotte (No, not at Monarch Egg!) That's some good eatin' there, boys!

If you like beer, go to Boulevard Brewing Co. on Southwest Blvd. Second largest brewery in Missouri! Call ahead and see if you can get an informal tour. Regualr tours are on Saturday, I think. If you need help setting that up, get back to me. I know some folks there. In fact, I designed a piece of brewing equipment for them years and years ago, before they got real big.

If you like baseball, take in a Royals game. If you like good baseball, watch ESPN.

Cabela's is neat, but you've seen one, you've seen 'em all.

If you want another good eating/drinking area, go to Parkville, just north of the river on I-635. Try Piropos for semi-authentic Argentinian cuisine. Good cigars there, too. There are other eating and drinking establishments there as well.

Since you're downtown, check out the all-new public library, about 3-4 blocks from your hotel. I haven't been there yet, but I understand it's really a great place.

There just isn't a hell of a lot to do right downtown after the sidewalks roll up at 6. Westport/Midtown/Plaza/Brookside/Waldo (from north to south, more-or-less between Main and Broadway) contains most of the nightlife, although there are some other spot out south in "God's Country" i.e. Johnson County, KS.

Wednesday nights at Molloy Bros in Westport features KC-area native Bob Walkenhorst (from the Rainmakers in the 1980s) live with Jeff Porter (a local studio musician and a GREAT guitar player) and Norm Dahlor (who plays bass for the Elders, a fantastic KC Irish rock/folk band). It's the best live music you'll ever get for a $3 cover charge. Ever. Period. Of course, the place is crawling with hippies and leftists, but that's what Harp, Guiness and Boulevard Pale Ale are for!!!

The Grand Emporioum has live music every night. Blues, Jazz, quite a variety. When you get to town, pick up a copy of "The Pitch" which is a free weekly leftist rag. Commie though it may be, it is an indispensable resource to finding out who's playing where and when. You can also check the events calendar online at www.pitch.com.

Town Topic for hamburgers. 3 minute drive from your hotel. 19th and Broadway. The place is a greasy shithole. I love it. I don't think they've cleaned the grill since the Roosevelt administration, and I mean the good one! Great breakfast there, too. Truck stop omelette with sausage. $6. Make sure you're within sprinting distance of a shiutter in about 50 minutes, though!

For lunch, go for the triple BLT at the Peanut, about 9th and Washington or so. It's a little east of Washington. Must have the triple. The regular BLT is a "cute" sammich, for a girl. Be a man. Get the triple. And get fries, not chips. You're welcome.

Like cajun/creole? Eat at Jazz, 39th and Bell, near KU Med Center. Great food, great music, great scenery, if you're into 22-year-old nursing students. I am.

Oh, yeah. i mentioned The Pitch earlier. "Adult Services" is VERY reliable. There are a couple stings in there, though. "Royal Blue" is one. You find the other. $175+tip is the going rate for standard "agency" type places. If you need a referral or a particular recommendation, IM me b/c. I know some people who know some people.

Like Middle Easter food? Jerusalem Cafe in Westport.

Like Italian food? Garozzo's downtown.

Shit! I need to get downtown and do some eatin'!!!

I do like the Boulevard beer and arthur-bryants BBQ...KC masterpiece restaurant is good as well

Quoted: Oh, yeah. i mentioned The Pitch earlier. "Adult Services" is VERY reliable. There are a couple stings in there, though. "Royal Blue" is one. You find the other. $175+tip is the going rate for standard "agency" type places. If you need a referral or a particular recommendation, IM me b/c. I know some people who know some people.

Nah, I don't need an "escort"!  Besides, my GF would KILL me (and she knows how too).  Good info on the rest though - Thanks!

BTT for the morning crew....

You've heard about the bbq. Don't miss that. Cabelas.....Check. If you go to cabelas have the caribou sandwich, it's great.  If you like baseball there's the negro leagues hall of fame, well worth the visit. Close to that is the countrys best stadium with the countrys worst baseball team. If you go there have a gates bbq sandwich to start and a sheboygan about the 7th inning. If you have a florida CCW permit it is recognized by MO. but not KS. If you have a chance find out what "The New Theater" is putting on. It's a great dinner theater. The "bullet hole" has gun rental and a good indoor range.

Quoted: You've heard about the bbq. Don't miss that. Cabelas.....Check. If you go to cabelas have the caribou sandwich, it's great.  If you like baseball there's the negro leagues hall of fame, well worth the visit. Close to that is the countrys best stadium with the countrys worst baseball team. If you go there have a gates bbq sandwich to start and a sheboygan about the 7th inning. If you have a florida CCW permit it is recognized by MO. but not KS. If you have a chance find out what "The New Theater" is putting on. It's a great dinner theater. The "bullet hole" has gun rental and a good indoor range.

I would have to respectfully disagree with what's highlited in red - Baltimore has both sides of that coin covered!!   Thanks for the info on CCW!

Quoted: Quoted: Keep in mind that KC is often featured on homocide cop shows.   There is a reason. As for nightlife, head to the plaza. Probably the safest, with Westport being a runner up. If you are staying downtown (dont' hang out there btw), it's a straight shot down broadway or main. Understood. My point was that I know better than to go wandering around on foot. FWIW, I think they are too scared to put a Cops film crew in Baltimore. Never seen one episode filmed there, but I might have just missed it.  We're #1 in murders most years, and definately one of the most "cultural" cities around.   What about stuff to see by day? Monday is wide open for some sight seeing. Doesn't necessarily have to be downtown.

If you can get time, the Museum Of Art in KC is a must see for sure. Alot of great paintings from the masters, some great old artifacts, and even some cool armor from Europe and Japan. It's near westport, so would make for a good way to kill some time before dinner and drinks. If you go, let me know what you think. I've been impressed both times I went.

Pretty much everything has been covered.

I don't know if the WWI monument/museum is open to the public anymore or not (it had been underfunded for years and was basically falling apart from neglect), but you might want to check on that.

I don't really care for westport, but I'm kinda odd and don't really like most people my age, since they tend to be morons.

Oh yeah....cheesecake factory!  In case you need a sugar overdose.  

I think the chiefs play at home on sunday the 28th -- stay the hell away from the stadium area basically all day or plan on spending hours in traffic.

And I think the royals are hard at work on taking the all-time-longest-losing-streak away from baltimore.

BTT one last time so I can print tomorrow.....

UPDATE: Bab Walkenhorst and band still play every Wednesday night at the same place, but it has recently changed hands and is now called "Record Bar". I went last night, and it was another great show. If you don't have any other plans for Wednesday night, I highly recommend catching the show. Good beer, good music, odd scenery.

Too bad you're not coming in on Sunday. The T-Bones minor-league baseball team has their last home stand of the season Fri-Sat-Sun. The ballpark is out by the racetrack and Cabela's, and there are lots of great places to eat and drink around there. I'm taking my kids to the Sunday game.

Have a great trip!

Quoted: Umm, there's this little sporting goods store about 11 miles down 70 into Kansas.  I think it is called Cabelas.  Yep, that's it.  A Cabelas superstore.   You can kill an evening walking around in there, and there are a couple of BBQ restaraunts nearby, too. Man, I can't believe you guys forgot about Cabelas.  Good thing the St. Louis guys are around to remind you what's in your backyard.   ETA:  Darn!  223DEVIL beat me to it.  I type too slow.

We are WELL aware of the geat store of manhood.  However I hate the place.  They have keep taking all my F'n money!!!