Food and Drink I'm going to Kansas City with a friend - Page 2

Jenson71 · 11-19-2009, 12:08 PM

We want some real down to earth Kansas City street stuff. We want original bbq, we want original jazz or blues lounges with wooden floors and cigar smoke and whiskey, we want hole in the wall, Anthony Bourdain adventures. Nothing trendy, nothing upscale, no rotating restaurants, no Hallmark stores, no bullshit.

Whatdaya gots?

stlchiefs · 11-19-2009, 12:33 PM

Go to breakfast at City Diner down in the River Market. Good old greasy spoon.

**gblowfish** · 11-19-2009, 12:34 PM

OK, OK, here's some info you might actually be able to use:

Good places to eat BBQ:
BBQ is everywhere, I list all the joints here:
http://www.georgeblowfish.com/BBQ.html

Cool things to see:
WWI National Museum at Liberty Memorial (If you like war)
(Union Station right across the street is a cool building)
Steamboat Arabia Museum in City Market (north end of downtown)
Harry S. Truman Library in Independence (If you like history)
Negro Leagues Museum in 18th & Vine District (If you like baseball)
Nelson-Atkins Museum (If you like world class art)
Boulevard Beer Brewery Tour (if you like beer)

Other good stuff:
Shopping: Country Club Plaza, Legends by the NASCAR track.
Food besides BBQ: Savoy Grill, Plaza III, The Bristol (all expensive)
Not expensive: Dixon's Chili and Fun House Pizza are both good, also try Winstead's for burgers or shakes, Ponak's or Manny's for Mexican, Garrozo's or Cascone's for Italian.

Entertainment:
Knucklehead's is a great music venue. I played there with my band back in July. Also Grinder's in the crossroads district.
President, Phillips and Muehlbach Hotels downtown are cool old school hotels to have a drink.

Have fun!

Have fun, spend money, we need it!

**gblowfish** · 11-19-2009, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewPhin

I went down to some upscale jazz club (the Blue Note?) one time downtime. Seems like it was about 7 or 8 blocks off the Plaza. Anyway, we met some people there, and they invited us back to some little house in a rundown section of town where there was an after hours jazz session playing in the basement. It was one of the weirder and more cool experiences I've had while traveling. It was like we had stepped back in time to a prohibition-ear speakeasy. Lots of white hipsters, but also lots of soulful, old black dudes in attendance. It felt very organic and authentic. Anyway, I never figured out if it was some regular thing that happens down there or what, but it was definitely cool.

Edit: The place we started at was the Blue Room. I remember now. It also doubles as a jazz museum.

The after hours place is the Mutual Musician's Foundation in the 18th and Vine district. Famous for after hours gigs. You were lucky to get to attend a jam session.

Here's the website:

http://www.thefoundationjamson.org/

NewChief · 11-19-2009, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblowfish

The after hours place is the Mutual Musician's Foundation in the 18th and Vine district. Famous for after hours gigs. You were lucky to get to attend a jam session.

Here's the website:

http://www.thefoundationjamson.org/

Thanks for shedding some light on that! It's one of those sort of surreal experiences that happen when traveling that later (we'd been drinking a lot) the memories are so fuzzy that you begin to wonder if they really happened. Now that I see the building, I realize that it was in that building, not in a house... the booze makes things fuzzy. Anyway, I've actually posted about that experience once or twice on here trying to get insight into the night, and I'd always drawn a blank which was really leading me to doubt my recollection of the evening.

Fairplay · 11-19-2009, 12:53 PM

Jack Stack's on 95th have killer burnt ends.

Jordan · 11-19-2009, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swayy07

Arthur bryants for BBQ i personally dont think you can beat it and for jazz go to THE JAZZ louisiana kitchen theres one in kck and i think one on the missouri side to.

The original Jazz restaurant is on 39th & Stateline...on the missouri side.

If you want BBQ & Blues, consider BB's Lawnside BBQ...2 birds, 1 stone.

Phoenix is a good suggestion for Jazz music, but so is Jardines & JJ's.

NewChief · 11-19-2009, 04:48 PM

How the hell does a thread about cool/interesting/unique things to do in KC fall from the front page with only 20 posts? Good grief. You'd think it was football season.

Titty Meat · 11-19-2009, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jilly

hole bars that don't include blues/jazz, in case you get tired of it:

the Velvet Dog - not a dive bar really, but a great place nonetheless
Charlie Hoopers - just an average bar, but good food, great selection of beer, and lots of tv's....they also have shuffle board
dive bars - what is it? the Red Balloon or something in OP, KS? total dive, but great karaoke

Restaurants, not BBQ:

Funhouse Pizza (40hwy) in Independence...it's historic, great mullet watching, excellent pizza, totally rugged place

The Red Balloon? The place that only takes cash?

Jordan · 11-19-2009, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblowfish

The after hours place is the Mutual Musician's Foundation in the 18th and Vine district. Famous for after hours gigs. You were lucky to get to attend a jam session.

Here's the website:

http://www.thefoundationjamson.org/

The foundation is awesome...very interesting mix of people there & - last I was there - they sell you drinks out of a cooler (no liquor license for after 3:00am but they have been granfathered in to allow "under the table sales" until 6:00am)

**gblowfish** · 11-19-2009, 04:54 PM

Y'know, its funny, reading thru this thread, nobody even MENTIONS the Power & Light District or Westport, both of which were designed specifically for tourists coming to KC to have fun. I forgot to mention the College Basketball HOF at the Sprint Center, it's pretty awesome if you like college Basketball.

BB's Lawnside BBQ is a good place for blues and BBQ although its in kind of a bad part of town.

Also, if you like chicken try Stroud's, either in Fairway or North of the River.

Fish · 11-19-2009, 04:54 PM

Knuckleheads or BB's Lawnside for Blues and BBQ. If you're out on a Thursday night, make it BB's for sure. John Paul's Flying Circus is the shit. Decent rib special that night too. $9/half slab, $14/full slab.

Flea Market in Westport is good for some great burgers, beer and pool/shuffleboard/foosball.

Fish · 11-19-2009, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jilly

Charlie Hoopers - just an average bar, but good food, great selection of beer, and lots of tv's....they also have shuffle board

Hoopers' shuffleboard isn't considered an actual shuffleboard table. It's a very very crappy table, and nowhere near level enough to even finish a game. Don't go to Hoopers specifically for shuffleboard or you'll be very disappointed...

Great bar otherwise. They have a huge selection of beer.

NewChief · 11-19-2009, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblowfish

Y'know, its funny, reading thru this thread, nobody even MENTIONS the Power & Light District or Westport, both of which were designed specifically for tourists coming to KC to have fun. I forgot to mention the College Basketball HOF at the Sprint Center, it's pretty awesome if you like college Basketball.

In all fairness, his OP made it clear that he wasn't wanting a typical touron experience.

**gblowfish** · 11-19-2009, 05:11 PM

If you like trannies, go have breakfast at Mama's Diner (the old Nichols Lunch) on 39th and Southwest trafficway. There's a waitress, I think his/her name is Nicki, and he/she's about 6' 3" with tasteful makeup and lee press on nails...

The food is great there, otherwise it wouldn't be worth the sideshow.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/mamas-39th-st-diner-kansas-city

Jilly · 11-19-2009, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billay

The Red Balloon? The place that only takes cash?

yes, that's the one. He asked for dives....that's def one.

11-19-2009, 12:08 PM
Jenson71 fides quaerens intellectum Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: United States Casino cash: $8330900	I'm going to Kansas City with a friend We want some real down to earth Kansas City street stuff. We want original bbq, we want original jazz or blues lounges with wooden floors and cigar smoke and whiskey, we want hole in the wall, Anthony Bourdain adventures. Nothing trendy, nothing upscale, no rotating restaurants, no Hallmark stores, no bullshit. Whatdaya gots?
Posts: 15,986

11-19-2009, 12:33 PM	#16
stlchiefs Veteran Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: St. Loser, MO Casino cash: $10005674	Go to breakfast at City Diner down in the River Market. Good old greasy spoon.
Posts: 4,160

11-19-2009, 12:34 PM	#17
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $16856178 VARSITY	OK, OK, here's some info you might actually be able to use: Good places to eat BBQ: BBQ is everywhere, I list all the joints here: http://www.georgeblowfish.com/BBQ.html Cool things to see: WWI National Museum at Liberty Memorial (If you like war) (Union Station right across the street is a cool building) Steamboat Arabia Museum in City Market (north end of downtown) Harry S. Truman Library in Independence (If you like history) Negro Leagues Museum in 18th & Vine District (If you like baseball) Nelson-Atkins Museum (If you like world class art) Boulevard Beer Brewery Tour (if you like beer) Other good stuff: Shopping: Country Club Plaza, Legends by the NASCAR track. Food besides BBQ: Savoy Grill, Plaza III, The Bristol (all expensive) Not expensive: Dixon's Chili and Fun House Pizza are both good, also try Winstead's for burgers or shakes, Ponak's or Manny's for Mexican, Garrozo's or Cascone's for Italian. Entertainment: Knucklehead's is a great music venue. I played there with my band back in July. Also Grinder's in the crossroads district. President, Phillips and Muehlbach Hotels downtown are cool old school hotels to have a drink. Have fun! Have fun, spend money, we need it!
Posts: 41,023

11-19-2009, 12:53 PM	#20
Fairplay A certain set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: texas Casino cash: $10026683 VARSITY	Jack Stack's on 95th have killer burnt ends.
Posts: 25,265

11-19-2009, 04:48 PM	#22
NewChief In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Fayetteville, AR Casino cash: $7120204	How the hell does a thread about cool/interesting/unique things to do in KC fall from the front page with only 20 posts? Good grief. You'd think it was football season. __________________ In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican. - H. L. Mencken
Posts: 21,845

11-19-2009, 04:54 PM	#25
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $16856178 VARSITY	Y'know, its funny, reading thru this thread, nobody even MENTIONS the Power & Light District or Westport, both of which were designed specifically for tourists coming to KC to have fun. I forgot to mention the College Basketball HOF at the Sprint Center, it's pretty awesome if you like college Basketball. BB's Lawnside BBQ is a good place for blues and BBQ although its in kind of a bad part of town. Also, if you like chicken try Stroud's, either in Fairway or North of the River.
Posts: 41,023

11-19-2009, 04:54 PM	#26
Fish Ain't no relax! Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $-1481081	Knuckleheads or BB's Lawnside for Blues and BBQ. If you're out on a Thursday night, make it BB's for sure. John Paul's Flying Circus is the shit. Decent rib special that night too. $9/half slab, $14/full slab. Flea Market in Westport is good for some great burgers, beer and pool/shuffleboard/foosball. __________________
Posts: 48,891

11-19-2009, 05:11 PM	#29
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $16856178 VARSITY	If you like trannies, go have breakfast at Mama's Diner (the old Nichols Lunch) on 39th and Southwest trafficway. There's a waitress, I think his/her name is Nicki, and he/she's about 6' 3" with tasteful makeup and lee press on nails... The food is great there, otherwise it wouldn't be worth the sideshow. http://www.yelp.com/biz/mamas-39th-st-diner-kansas-city
Posts: 41,023