Katie Van Luchene - Insiders Guide® to Kansas City

All the information in this guidebook is subject to change. We recommend that you call ahead to obtain current information before traveling.

Copyright 2010 Morris Book Publishing, LLC

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to Globe Pequot Press, Attn: Rights and Permissions Department, P.O. Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437.

Insiders Guide is a registered trademark of Morris Book Publishing, LLC.

Editor: Amy Lyons

Project Editor: Lynn Zelem

Layout Artist: Kevin Mak

Text Design: Sheryl Kober

Maps by XNR Productions, Inc. Morris Book Publishing, LLC

ISSN 1542-7404

ISBN 978-0-7627-5343-7

Printed in the United States of America

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Katie Van Luchene is a Kansas City native who is often asked where to find the best local food, little-known shopping venues, and favorite hot spots. A natural-born storyteller, she shares her enthusiasm for the town she loves through her roles as the editor of KC Magazine and author of this book.

Were tweaking a famous phrase to say that behind every great city is a great woman. In the case of Kansas Citys renaissance, there are actually several female leaders to thank. When Kay Barnes was mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, she made good on her political promise to create a vibrant urban core filled with residences and commerce, new attractions and arts venues.

Kudos as well to Carol Marinovich, Kays mayoral counterpart in Kansas City, Kansas, who brought us the Kansas Speedway. Today the entertainment district surrounding the racetrack is the states most popular tourist destination. Best of all, it gave new pride to a city that had taken a backseat to its more glamorous sister for decades.

Meanwhile, Mayor Peggy Dunn (the only one of the trio still in office) has turned suburban Leawood, Kansas, into an exhilarating display of shopping and entertainment venues. Theres even an old-fashioned town square complete with an outdoor skating rink surrounded by condos and unique shops.

And while Brenda Tinnen doesnt hold a political office, shes the Queen of Kansas City in our book. As the general manager of our new Sprint Center arena, this hometown girl parlayed her previous roles at the STAPLES Center and Kodak Theatre into bringing a dazzling list of headliners to Kansas City. Less than two years after opening, Sprint Center was herealded as one of the best concert venuesnumber 5 in the U.S. and number 16 in the world.

To these four fierce and fabulous women, we are forever in your debt.

Hats off as well to the artists, musicians, chefs, historians, and innkeepers on both sides of the state line whose passions and talents make this city so enticing for visitors and residents alike. And to the thousands of mentors, teachers, caregivers, philanthropists, and volunteers: Youre the reason were known as the Heartland.

Im saving my most personal thank-you note for my husband, the handsome guy by my side as I explore this marvelous city. Jerry Foulds, you continue to be my best friend and my hero.

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

Naturally, as a travel guide, this book is ideal for anyone planning a visit to Kansas City, whether its a vacation, as home base for a series of day trips, or a few days before or after a business meeting. Consider this your VIP pass to the best Kansas City has to offer in attractions, dining, nightlife, and shopping. As a mover and a shaker, you wont want to miss a thing.

Weve also put together a helpful guide just for the movers. Are you considering a move to the Kansas City area or do you already live here? Be sure to check out the blue-tabbed pages at the back of the book, where you will find the Living Here appendix that offers sections on relocation, real estate, education, health care, and media. The relocation section also includes a listing of service providers, such as gas companies and new-neighbor groups, to help you quickly feel at home in your new town.

Traveler or transplant: Welcome! But perhaps the optimum use for this book is for the reader who lives in Kansas City but hasnt really lived it up yet. Youll tap your foot at jam sessions, talk to natives and newcomers, meet historians and artists and gardeners and zookeepers. And we guarantee youll read about restaurants you didnt know existed, find hidden retail gems, meet some fascinating people, and discover new reasons to be proud of your hometown.

For pioneers headed to Santa Fe, Oregon, and California, Kansas City was the gateway to the future. But for you it might be the gateway to your past. Independence, Missouri, is home to not one but two vast genealogical libraries. Family-history seekers come by the busloads to the Mid-Continent Public Librarys Genealogy and Local History branch and the Jackson County Historical Society Archives and Research Library in the Independence Square Courthouse. The National Archives for the seven central states is now open, housing more than 60 million pages of historical records.

So whatever your reason for purchasing this book, we sincerely thank you and hope youll enjoy itand Kansas Cityto its fullest. NOTE: Unless otherwise indicated all listings in this book are located in Kansas City, Missouri; other cities and towns will be designated MO (Missouri) or KS (Kansas).

Travelers familiar with the Insiders Guide series will recognize the books easy-to-use format. Those friendly features you appreciate are all here, including Insiders Tipsdesignated with an i that let you in on local secrets and Close-ups that provide an in-depth look at some of our top attributes.

Like all Insiders Guides, this one has been organized to help make the most of your trip to the City of Surprises, from how to navigate our streets to where to find the culinary dish you crave. Lucky for you, no matter what food you fancywhether its a luscious risotto studded with truffles (even this carnivorous city has a strong vegetarian contingency!), the Kansas City strip that made our town famous, or a garlicky chicken spiediniits never more than 20 or so minutes away.