ECI Brochure

A B O U T

E C I

Entertainment Consulting International Entertainment Consulting International, ECI, is a hospitality company that brings decades worth of industry knowledge to bear in the ideation, development and operations of restaurants, bars, nightclubs and live entertainment concepts. To date, ECI has created venues in over 20 separate markets throughout the United States.

In addition, ECI operates within Live! Districts in major cities throughout the country which welcome over 50 million people annually. Live! Districts are the most visited destinations in their respective regions including the number one attraction in two states. Each Live! District is unique and embodies the local flare and culture that is special to each community. Live! Districts share a common commitment to quality and providing patrons best-in-class entertainment experiences. The focal point of Live! Districts is the energy and excitement of live entertainment with each district featuring approximately 200 major concerts, festivals and events throughout the year.

Jake Miller - President Bill Brayer - Chief Operating Officer Jamie Parton - Director of Operations

F E A T U R E D

C O N C E P T S

ATLANTA

Sports & Social is a one-of-a-kind sports bar, gaming parlor and social lounge soon to hit in Atlanta. The two-level space features a 30-foot diagonal high-definition LED screen as a backdrop for social games and activities throughout the venue. Equipped with skeeball, table tennis, shuffle puck, air hockey and a golf simulator, Sports & Social also serves an eclectic menu with plates for sharing, beer cocktails and a well-appointed cocktail menu. Combining the traditional elements of a sports tavern with classic interactive games, Sports & Social is the perfect destination for groups, professionals and all those whose competitive spirit thrives.

DETROIT

LOUISVILLE

Cowboy cool meets urban chic… the toughest sport on dirt transformed into the most stunning club all decked out with beautiful décor, cold beer, hard drinks, and a little bull ridin’. PBR first opened its doors in 2009 at the Power & Light District in Kansas City, MO and has since launched venues in Las Vegas, NV; Baltimore, MD; Philadelphia, PA; Hampton, VA; Louisville, KY; and St. Louis, MO making PBR one of the hottest and fastest growing concepts in the country. Each location of PBR features its own unique high-quality design, but with shared attractions including a stage for live music, a large dance floor, a softseating lounge area, a relaxed outdoor patio, multiple bars, and the world’s meanest mechanical bull as a show-piece element to the club. PBR has vastly become every urban cowboy and cowgirl’s nighttime oasis.

PHILADELPHIA

LAS VEGAS

B A LT I M O R E

ST LOUIS

HAMPTON

KANSAS CITY

LOUISVILLE

AT L A N TA

NORFOLK

PBR is the world’s premier bull riding organization. PBR is experiencing unprecedented growth in global and domestic appeal. Today more than 600 bull riders from the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico hold PBR memberships.

They compete in more than 300 bull riding events each year on either the nationally-televised Built Ford Tough Series, the BlueDEF Velocity Tour or the Touring Pro Division. The success of the PBR has made it one of the most prolific sports on television.

The elite Built Ford Tough Series is televised every week on CBS, CBS Sports Network and networks around the world. Additionally, PBR broadcasts reach over half a billion households in 50 nations and territories. Annual attendance of more than 3 million fans each season, compared to 310,000 in 1995, indicates that the PBR is making an indelible impression.

On April 15, 2015, the PBR announced that WME|IMG, the global leader in sports, fashion and media, had acquired the company from Spire and the remaining PBR shareholders. WME|IMG is now the sole owner of the PBR. The PBR has rapidly transformed one of the fastest-growing sports in America into a worldwide phenomenon. In just two decades, the dream of 20 bull riders has grown into a global sports sensation that has awarded more than $140 million in prize money.

For more information on PBR, visit www.pbr.com

Award-winning chef, restaurateur, author and TV personality, Guy Fieri, brings his brand new dining concept, Guy Fieri’s Smokehouse, to Norfolk and Louisville. Inducted into the American Royal BBQ Hall of Fame in 2012, Guy Fieri’s passion for BBQ is a heavy influence on the menu, boasting unique and unexpected flavor combinations that never fail to impress.

The Sports Marketplace is the central gathering place and entertainment plaza located at XFINITY Live! in Philadelphia, PA and at Ballpark Village in St. Louis, MO. The Marketplace features two levels and 20,000 square feet of entertainment market space. With a world-class audio and video presentation, including a 40 foot LED Screen and a performance stage, sports fans get one of the best sports-viewing experiences in the country. This is the place to be year round with a 100 foot long retractable glass roof, one of the largest of its kind in the country, fans can enjoy the nice weather during warmer months. The venue includes, a stage for live concerts and performances, LED ribbon boards circling the entire space, a 200 seat restaurant and a VIP lounge area. NBC Sports Arena was voted “#1 Sports Bar� by Philly Magazine in 2015.

No Other Pub by Sporting KC is a one-of-a-kind sports bar, gaming parlor and social lounge. No Other Pub is the premier destination to watch sporting events in Kansas City, including all home and away matches for Sporting KC, on its 10-ft. x 15-ft. video wall. The “No Other Pub” name is tribute to the Kansas City Cauldron’s popular chant “No Other Club.” The pub features a comprehensive selection of local craft beer and spirits made in Kansas City, as well as a full food and drink menu and a fast-casual taco stand. The gaming parlor is outfitted with bowling, golf simulators, table tennis, shuffleboard, foosball and darts. All visitors will stay connected through free Wi-Fi and the ability to charge their smart phones directly at bar counters. No Other Pub, the “playground” for millennials, professionals, and all those with a competitive spirit.

ABOUT SPORTING KC Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Missouri.

The club competes in the Western Conference of Major League Soccer. They are one of the ten charter teams having competed in the league since 1996. The team was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1995.

In 2006, Sporting Club purchased the Kansas City Wizards professional soccer team from Lamar Hunt and Hunt Sports Group as the first step in building its high-performance entertainment company. Sporting Club has committed more than $200 million to Kansas City soccer and brought the state-of-the-heart Sporting Park to Kansas City by way of their diligence. The ownership group is unique to Kansas City sports, as Sporting is the only professional sports organization with local ownership.

For the majority of their existence, the franchise were known as the Kansas City Wizards.

The team rebranded in November 2010, coinciding with its move to their home stadium, now known as Children’s Mercy Park. The franchise has won the MLS Cup twice (2000, 2013), the Supporters’ Shield in 2000, and the U.S. Open Cup in 2004, 2012 and 2015.

Leinenkugel’s Beer Garden occupies a glass pavilion, complete with a retractable roof, opening to a lush and festive outdoor beer garden. Featuring over 30 rotating draft beers from local, regional and national breweries, Leinekugel’s Beer Garden has become the meeting place for downtown Baltimore and Kansas City.

Best Beer Garden in Baltimore by CBS Baltimore, 2015 25 Best New Favorite Bar in Baltimore by Baltimore Magazine, 2013 Best Bar to Celebrate Your Birthday in Baltimore by CBS Baltimore, 2013

Blue Moon TapHouse was born from the creative inspiration of bringing craftsmanship to life. The menu marries the art of cooking with the art of beer in an open kitchen. The Tavern features live music and authentic art by local artists. The TapHouse boasts 22,550 square footage and connects Waterside Drive to the Elizabeth River waterfront in the heart of downtown Norfolk, Virginia.

Blue Moon TapHouse at Waterside District features three unique dining and entertainment experiences throughout the venue. The tavern area, with comfortable, booth-style seating, features a custom designed circular bar serving a collection of featured beers on tap, a stage for intimate, live music performances and an outdoor patio.

From the tavern room, the venue flows into a dynamic, central area that opens to a high, vaulted ceiling with a large skylight and a significant, exposed kitchen for one-of-a-kind dining experiences.

The dining area of the venue, which opens to beautiful, waterfront views along the Elizabeth River, features a large exterior patio for outdoor dining and second stage for live music.

The Budweiser Brew House is a three-level, 26,000-square-foot venue that offers an unparalleled beer and dining experience for baseball fans and visitors in St. Louis. The destination includes an outdoor beer garden, an interior inspired

by Anheuser-Busch and Budweiser’s rich heritage and commitment to quality, and a rooftop deck that puts St. Louis Cardinals fans within reach of baseball heaven.

DINING From wings and lobster tacos to St. Louisstyle ribs, fresh salads and more, each Budweiser Brew House menu item was created by a chef with a specific beer pairing in mind. Add a suggested beer to your entrée or select one of your favorites for a unique dining experience.

E N T E R TA I N M E N T The rooftop deck includes an incredible view of St. Louis Cardinals games in a fun, outdoor atmosphere. The Budweiser Brew House also includes a stage so guests can sit back with some of the world’s finest beers while enjoying live music in an intimate and inviting atmosphere.

BEER The Budweiser Brew House offers 239 beer taps, from Budweiser— proudly brewed in St. Louis since 1876—to new and exciting beers you’ve yet to try. A unique, self-serve 21-foot tap wall featuring a variety of brews allows guests to pour and explore new beers or old favorites. With the help of an in-house beer ambassador, adults 21 and older can visit our tap wall, and watch as their chosen tap dispenses a perfectly chilled beer.

Mosaic, an ultra-lounge, boasts a design aesthetic that aims to challenge guests’ sense of perception and reality. The uber-stylish interior, with soft seating, champagne by the glass and a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system, Mosaic delivers the kind of dramatic, visual nightlife experience commonly found in Las Vegas and LA. Mosaic’s interior extends seamlessly to a chic outdoor patio which has fast become Baltimore and Kansas City’s living room. Mosaic’s high-energy soundtrack will deliver you onto your feet and well into the night. Notable DJ’s that have played at Mosaic include Fedde LeGrand, The White Panda, Steve Aioki, Dash Berlin, Morgan Page, Girl Talk, Markus Schulz, Tritonal, Audien, Cedric Gervais, Arty, Julian Jordan, Dyro, Rebecca & Fiona, and more. KC Magazine named Mosaic “Best Nightclub” in 2014.

The heart of the waterfront’s historic building has been transformed into a diverse culinary scene. Covering 90,000 square-feet, The Market features ten curated culinary and beverage experiences housing some of the best local, regional and national brands. The Market is the living room of Norfolk and the region where everyone comes together.

The Market’s industrial shipyard feel has an expanded skylight, glass elevator to the second level, and a central bar featuring 48 craft beers on tap. It is the central gathering place and the main stage for live music, festivals and family attractions. The communal hub features a stage for live music and a giant LED screen perfect for sports watching.

R YA N M AY B E E Ryan Maybee is a restaurateur with expertise in the fields of wine, spirits and mixology. To him, the craft of bartending is more than just making a drink.

Rather, he believes bartending is a true skill akin to the professionalism of chefs and their culinary educations.

He began his career in the industry as a bartender at a Kansas City icon, Pierpont’s at Union Station in 1999. By the time of his departure in 2004, he held the position of sommelier and created the bar’s 48 page cocktail menu. His thirst for knowledge of wine and classic mixology led him to become a fine wine specialist for Major Brands. In 2006, he opened JP Wine Bar and Coffee House in Kansas City as co-owner and general manager. JP’s phenomenal success allowed Maybee to invest further in his beverage education and pursue other ventures.

His creative libations have received national acclaim being featured in such top-tier publications as Wine Enthusiast, Food and Wine, Market Watch, The New Yorker, Vogue, GQ, Esquire, Vanity Fair, Mr. Boston’s Official Bartender’s Guide, Imbibe, The Bartenders Gin Compendium, and Bartender Magazine. Gaz Regan’s Annual Manual for Bartenders named him one of 8 “Fabulous Innovators” in 2011 for his technique for smoking whiskey, and his original cocktail, the “Smokin’ Choke” was awarded Innovative Cocktail of the Year in 2010 by the Institute for Cocktail Excellence.

In 2009, he opened Manifesto, a small, speakeasy like bar focusing on classically inspired cocktails using all fresh and homemade ingredients. The bar has received overwhelming local and national attention by being noticed in The New York Times, Esquire, Food & Wine, Imbibe, and winning Small Wonder Bar of the Year 2010 by Nightclub & Bar Magazine.

In 2011 he partnered with Chef Howard Hanna to open a restaurant, The Rieger Hotel Grill & Exchange, in the same building as Manifesto. In just one year, The Rieger has been named Best New Restaurant by The Pitch, awarded 3.5 stars by the Kansas City Star, and has received numerous accolades including Best Service (Pitch), Best Bar Program (Pitch), and was named one of Zagat’s Top Restaurants of 2012.

Critically acclaimed cocktail lounge, The Kill Devil Club originated in Kansas City, Missouri and was named one of “The 21 Hottest Cocktail Bars Across the U.S.” by Eater, an online food magazine. The Kill Devil Club, as suggested by its name, which is the historic English predecessor to the word “rum” offers an expansive rum selection along with an innovative cocktail menu created

by Kansas City’s entrepreneur and mixologist Ryan Maybee. This adult oasis features plates for sharing and live music that moves you.

The Kill Devil Club opened its second location in Louisville, Kentucky in April of 2013. The Kill Devil Club has been renowned for their KDC Cocktail Club featuring cocktail lessons and tasting sessions. Eater.com voted The Kill Devil Club as one of the “16 Best Rumcentric Cocktail Bars”. Food & Wine Magazine named The Kill Devil Club as one of the “Best New Bars in the U.S.” in 2013 and it was recognized for “Best Craft Cocktails” by 435 Magazine.

A social eatery by Top Chef’s Jason Cichonski serving cuisine inspired by a blend of Mexican and Asian flavors bringing an innovative twist to classic dishes. With a variety of shareable plates and hand-crafted cocktails, 1100 Social offers a unique style of dining.

CHEF JASON CICHONSKI Chef Jason Cichonski is one of Philadelphia’s most exciting young, star chefs. His creative, boundary-pushing presentations at his highly respected Queen Village restaurant, Ela, have earned him accolades from press and public alike. Cichonski showcases his wide-range of skills with his down-to-earth bar, The Gaslight.

He had the opportunity to display his incredible cooking skills on a national level as a contestant on the popular Bravo TV cooking competition, “Top Chef.” Now he has introduced an exciting new concept to his repertoire, combining Mexican and Asian flavors for the high-quality 1100 Social.

Cichonski was born in Northeast Philadelphia and grew up in Churchville, Bucks County, graduating from Council Rock High School. He studied culinary arts at the Restaurant School in University City at Walnut Hill College.

Spark is Baltimore’s most collaborative coworking space, featuring private offices and shared workspace for entrepreneurs, creators and innovators, located within The Offices at Power Plant Live!. Spark is an inspiring work environment, designed specifically with creators in mind and tailored to provide entrepreneurs not just what they want, but what they need. Amenities include a shared kitchen, relaxing lounge space, indoor bike storage, fitness center, on-site parking garage, concierge services, meeting rooms with online scheduling, print stations, high speed internet, mail service, event space for up to 250 guests, and local gourmet coffee and craft beer.

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P R E S S

PRESS

KC Attracts National Attention Ranked #3 in America’s Best Food Cities

Whether they were craving French fusion, peanut-butter-and-kimchi sandwiches or the perfect piece of fried chicken, Travel+Leisure readers ranked the cities that make their mouths water.

America’s Best Cities for Food Snobs Excerpted

March 2015

When she’s visiting Los Angeles, Las Vegas restaurateur Elizabeth Blau—recently nominated for a James Beard award—does not concern herself with A-list seating at restaurants. “The rst time I went to Gjelina,” she says of the acclaimed Venice café, “we got pizza and salads in the to-go area, then ate them while sitting on milk crates in the alley. It was so good.”

No surprise, Blau says that she plans her trips around restaurants, bakeries and markets, though many Travel+Leisu sure readers would attest that you don’t have to be a restaurateur to travel by your stomach. As part of the magazine’s America’s Favorite Cities survey, readers ranked 38 cities for qualities like walkable streets, historic appeal and art galleries—which, for some travelers, are just pleasant time-killers between meals.

Readers also ranked the 10 most crave-worthy features of a city, from the relatively low-cost indulgences of street food, coffee and bakeries to specialty gourmet markets, wine bars and high-end, chef-driven restaurants. (And throwing in plenty of burgers, pizza, craft beers and sandwiches.)

Among the winners—some perhaps boosted in the polls by their enthusiastic locals—we found a number of James Beard winners and nominees, as well as some fabulously creative twists on classics: “hot chicken” in Nashville, bison tartare in Minneapolis and pickle tasting plates in Chicago.

Sometimes, though, the simplest tastes are the most memorable—like the fresh, warm bread Blau once had at L.A. bakery Superba. “We only had crumbs in the bag by the time we left,” she says. “We had to go back and get more to bring home on the plane.”

Readers may associate Kansas City primarily with its classic barbecue (the city beat out Memphis and all the Texas cites in the survey for ribs and such this year), but the city is more than just burnt ends. It also ranked fth for ne dining- like Bluestem, helmed by a 2013 James Beard winner, and The American, which Beard himself helped open in the ‘70s. To taste the city’s newest takes on barbeque, try Cleaver & Cork, in the Power & Light District, which was launched by the folks behind artisanal butcher The Local Pig. Eating well in Kansas City need not involve a huge investment, either; it won survey for feeling affordable.

Readers may associate Kansas City primarily with its classic barbecue (the city beat out Memphis and all the Texas ciies in the survey for ribs and such this year), but the city is more than just burnt ends. It also ranked fifih for fine dining—like Bluestem, helmed by a 2013 James Beard winner, and The American, which Beard himself helped open in the ‘70s.

To taste the city’s newest takes on barbecue, try Cleaver & Cork, in the Power & Light District, which was launched by the folks behind arrsanal butcher The Local Pig. Eaang well in Kansas City need not involve a huge investment, either; it won the survey for feeling affordable.

2013 AWARD WINNER:

BEST SPORTS BAR Excerpted

THE SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB The Sports & Social Club is a relaxed sports bar offering classic pub food and tremendous sports viewing in a comfortable tavern setting. Serving lunch, dinner and a dynamic nightlife, The Sports & Social Club also offers bowling, live entertainment and The Eagle: a fully equipped private party room.

Eye Blind, a late ’90s hit maker. Her passion for the grounds bears the same sort of intensity that Snider had hoped to have apparent by asking Cordish to speed up preparations.

XFINITY LIVE! LAUNCHES AT SPORTS COMPLEX

August 2013

THOUSANDS ASSISTED A BALLYHOOED BLEND OF EATERIES AND PASTIMES TO CELEBRATE ITS FULL DEBUT April 5, 2012

EXCERPTED

The restaurant and bar is equipped with state of the art technology including the ultimate sports viewing room equipped with two 100 inch high definition projectors and digital surround sound, making The Sports & Social Club the perfect venue to watch sports and party with friends.

rejoice over Xfinity Live’s! creation of 800 full-time positions.

a hotel in their next planning phase. “I am so eager for all to enjoy.”

to sate the cravings of the 5,000 consumers who can occupy the total space.

Feet from the beginning of the Walk of Champions, a path that leads to the new enclosure and that includes statues of Flyers Hall of Fame center Bobby Clarke and Sixers Hall of Fame forward Julius Irving, Nutter praised Philadelphia as the only city whose four major athletic teams play within a half-mile radius of one another.

He dubbed The Broad Street Bullies Pub, complete with the memorabilia from the Flyers’ top period, which yielded Stanley Cup championships in 1974 and ’75, his top destination, as did Mitchell Nichols of the 2800 block of Morris Street.

When mouths were not busy chewing food, they were spewing praise on how impressively the internal and external amenities struck them. No location lacked action, with the Spectrum Grille earning plaudits from seafood and steak lovers and the Victory Beer Hall receiving kudos from eager imbibers. The latter’s selection, live entertainment and 2,000-square-foot patio featuring a fire pit led Stacy Vargas to declare the other areas pretenders to the hall’s crown.

“There has been so much progress in the area over the last 16 years,” he said. “Let’s go celebrate the latest example.”

Nutter joined the moguls, including Comcast-Spectacor President Peter Luukko, to flip an oversized “Live!” switch that signaled their brainchild’s official status, with all peering at a fireworks display.

The Sports & Social Club, 427 S. 4th St., Louisville, KY (502) 568-1400 thesportsandsocialclub.com

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eed Cordish had metaphors on his mind during Friday afternoon’s official opening of Xfinity Live! Philadelphia, 1100 Pattison Ave., a $60 million entertainment district more than four years in the making.

“Look around, and you will see incredible stadiums and a great arena,” the vice president of Baltimore’s The Cordish Companies said in referring to Citizens Bank Park, 1 Citizens Bank Way; Lincoln Financial Field, 1101 Pattison Ave.; and the Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St., as attendees anticipated enjoying the 55,000-square-foot mix of interior and exterior establishments and diversions. “They are your cathedrals.

“Everything turned out far better than the renderings,” Luukko said of the initiative, whose leaders he noted will explore adding

Xfinity Live! is thrilled to become your living room.”

Cordish, whose business ranks as the country’s largest entertainment entity developer, commemorated his family’s first stadiumarea project with partnering personnel from Comcast-Spectacor and Mayor Michael Nutter. Their commitment to furthering Philadelphia’s reputation as a prime sports center and leisure location helped work to end ahead of schedule and to make last weekend a sensory symbol of the sports complex’s possibilities.

“It has exceeded my wildest expectations,” Comcast-Spectacor Chairman Ed Snider,

who had foreseen opening today yet asked Cordish to have efforts finished for last week’s two Bruce Springsteen shows at the Wells Fargo Center, said.

The 16-year-old facility, home to the Sixers and Flyers, for whom he serves as chairmen, enabled Snider to aid the City’s quest for a connector to spur economic growth.

He found that link in 2007, uniting with the Maryland corporation responsible for similar spots in Atlantic City, Baltimore, Houston and St. Louis.

“This is the realization of the vision of so many great people,” Cordish said before deferring to Nutter, a jobs advocate sure to

“I think they’ll win the Cup this year, too, but it’s great to see some old stuff,” the Grays Ferry resident said as he inspected samples of the franchise’s lore, including a cartoon depiction of the ’76 exhibition victory over the Soviet Red Army Team. “The atmosphere here is relaxed and should draw nice crowds for music, beer and food.”

Nichols’ favorite haunt is situated among Chickie’s & Pete’s, Nick’s Roast Beef and The Original Philadelphia Cheesesteak Co., the components of The Philly Marketplace, Xfinity Live’s! centerpiece. They enjoyed a steady stream of patrons and seem destined

“It’s brilliant here,” the resident of the 500 block of Carpenter Street said. “I’m going to make this whole weekend a celebration of this new vibe in my hometown.”

The Queen Village dweller planned to let the afternoon slip into the evening by sampling something from each space and winding down by watching the night’s free concert with the alternative rock band Third

“They are great partners,” Cordish said of Snider and Luukko after giving his family a tour of the district, which held a music festival and entertained viewers of the Flyers’ loss to the Ottawa Senators, the Sixers’ win over the Atlanta Hawks and the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament’s semifinal tilts Saturday. “What we have helped to create is a model for development around stadiums that will be looked at all across the country and maybe internationally. It will put Philadelphia very much on the forefront.”

Cordish then dined with his clan in the interior section of the NBC Sports Arena.

The space offers a 32-foot diagonal LED HD television, with LED Rings displaying a sports ticker. The exterior’s On Demand Theater calls on a 24-foot-wide LED videoboard to show family-oriented movies and sports duels. Friday’s attendees also enjoyed assorted games on a 100-yard artificial turf field.

Margaret Becker, of the 2500 block of South Marshall Street, took the Broad Street Line to the district but plans to use her car for subsequent adventures. For her future jaunts, she will not need to pay for parking on days minus events and will be able to avoid paying anything one hour af-

ter the day’s last occasion begins. Xfinity Live! personnel, in a December release, said free parking will be available after 9 p.m. for 95 percent of the year.

“That’s a pretty high figure,” the Lower Moyamensing inhabitant said before dining at the PBR Bar and Grill.

Eager for its Tex-Mex fare, she expressed the most enthusiasm for riding the establishment’s mechanical bull. A 30-second date with the gyrating cattle left her laughing and coveting another.

“That thing is going to be a smash,” she said.

Cordish hopes the whole complex, which

takes the place of the Spectrum, whose demolition ended in May, becomes a runaway hit. He will be checking in with Snider and Luukko weekly, with talks certain to include safety matters. Security officers ensured a peaceful progression and will continue to maintain order daily.

All seemed idyllic Friday as Blackwood, N.J.’s Joanne and Jack Brunkle enjoyed the sunshine while on the patio.

“I think the whole setup is great,” Jack Brunkle said as his wife nodded approvingly of her beau’s estimation of the outdoor seating, fire pit and entertainment stages. “It’s going to draw people from everywhere and will be a great place to come to in order to watch games.”

PRESS ABOVE THE BAR 435’S PICKS FOR THE 21 BEST WATERING HOLES IN KANSAS CITY

Excerpted

BEST NEW BARS IN THE U.S.

Excerpted

December 2013

January 10, 2013

NEW POWER & LIGHT COCKTAIL BAR MAKES NATIONAL ‘WHAT’S HOT’ LIST

BEST CRAFT COCKTAIL

KILL DEVIL CLUB

Excerpted

KC’s newest hotspot is a jazzy nightclub overlooking the Power & Light District.

The dark, cozy club with a speakeasy vibe, features handcrafted cocktails, a well-stocked bar with an especially large selection of rums and live music that will make you want to get up and swing the night away. Brought to you by Ryan Maybee, the craft cocktail king, Kill Devil’s premiere cocktail list includes Tempest, Bacchanal Plantation, Bliss Swizzle, Mojo Royale, Man’s Ruin, Tailwind; as well as the classic Hanky Panky, Old Fashioned, Death in the Afternoon and Bee’s Knees; and the signature Kill-Devil Punch. The Kill Devil Club, 61 E. 14th St., Kansas City, MO (913) 908-0406 www.killdevil.com

November 28, 2012

THE KILL DEVIL CLUB Where Myths and Legends Die Hard. The Kill Devil Club is an adult oasis, downtown. It’s Kansas City’s newest hotspot featuring hand crafted cocktails, plates for sharing and live music that moves you. The Kill Devil Club occupies a 5,400-squarefoot space at the corner of 14th Street and Main Street, on the second floor above Fran’s Restaurant. The space features a main lounge with seating for 120, a bar area, cozy private room, an elevated stage with a Baby Grand piano and floor-toceiling windows with incredible views of Main Street and the downtown skyline.

BEST HONKY TONK

PBR BIG SKY

31 East 14th Street Kansas City, MO 64106 (816) 471-0704 www.killdevilclub.com

PBR Big Sky has been known to host a crazy crowd or two. This is where cowboy cool meets urban chic. Think denim and diamonds, Stetsons and stilettos. Throw in cold beer, hard drinks and a little bull riding, and it’s a fun time for any cowboy and cowgirl. With country music playing in the background and a dance party on the floor, you can enjoy drink specials Monday through Friday, and a live band playing Thursday and Saturday nights. PBR Big Sky, 111 E. 13th St., Kansas City, MO (816) 442-8145 www.pbrbigskykc.com

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new bar in the Power & Light District has made Eater’s “heatmap.”

The national restaurant, bar and nightlight blog put the Kill Devil Club as No. 15 on its list of “21 Hottest Cocktail Bars Across the U.S.: Where to Drink Right Now.” Eater describes Kill Devil Club as: “A new Kansas City piano bar with live jazz and a nice mix of classic and original cocktails. The food menu, which includes foie and fig empanadas, ensures you’ll have something to soak up the booze.”

The Kill Devil Club is a collaboration between local restaurateur and mixologist Ryan Maybee and ECI, an affiliate of Power & Light District landlord and developer the Cordish Cos. The bar is located in a second-floor spot at the southeast corner of 14th and Main Streets.

Other bars on Eater’s list include a members-only venue in St. Louis called Blood & Sand, and an underground bar in San Francisco called Local Edition.

For 4 color printing: Blue - C 100, M 57, Y 0, K 38 Green - C 58, M 0, Y 80, K 0 Red - C 0, M 90, Y 86, K 0

LEINENKUGEL’S BEER GARDEN AT POWER PLANT LIVE New venue doesn’t evoke beer garden history, but it does give a taste of the world of microbrew

Excerpted

I

October 4, 2011

n recent years, beer gardens have enjoyed a renaissance on the East Coast.

I’ve been hearing from local beer drinkers and beer experts that it’s one of the best things the Inner Harbor complex has done in a while, and they’re right. The new bar lives up to the hype — its best quality is the gorgeous greenhouse that is its home, an all-glass box beautifully lighted by shiny orbs on rustic chandeliers. Its beer selection is ample, and though beer experts would have preferred more regional brews — how about some Stillwater, Leinie? — there’s plenty to draw them in.

The bar was lightly crowded — it was a Wednesday — and everyone had their eyes on ESPN. When Robert Andino won the game, the few people in the bar hollered and clapped. Leinenkugel’s fosters community; all tables are banquet-style and three of them are circular high-tops the bar is calling “social tables.” Priced at a premium, they have two mobile draft handles that are meant to be shared in a group of 10 — anyone can sit at them, but there’s a $120 spending minimum to set up the kegs.

The bar itself is a beauty, a jewel box with glass walls that looks out to the rest of Power Plant Live. Stretched long like a beer hall, it’s also roomy and cool — all the glass walls are retractable and can be lifted for extra air flow. Three industrial fans keep the place refreshing when the windows are down. There’s one problem with the retractable walls,

one color black and white

HIGH HOPES AT PHILLY’S NEW ‘MALL OF SPORTS BARS’

KC Keeps Attracting National Attention Excerpted

New restaurant, Cleaver & Cork, gets nooced in KC

March 2015

Comcast, Cordish see potential to replicate Xfinity Live! elsewhere EXCERPTED

April 16, 2012

The new Leinenkugel’s is in many ways the perfect spot to open Baltimore Beer Week, which starts this week.

Even if Leinenkugel’s doesn’t live up to the rich history of beer gardens, it offers craft beer for the average beer drinker and an introduction to the larger world of microbrews.

New ones have popped up in New York, Philadelphia and, last year, Washington. So it was with great anticipation that I went to Baltimore’s new beer garden, Leinenkugel’s at Power Plant Live.

If I’m in a good mood, it’s because I was at Leinenkugel’s last week when the Orioles blocked the red Sox from the playoffs. A German beer garden was the perfect place to feel that kind of deliciously overwhelming schadenfreude.

and ales, and a range of beers that go from light to heavy. There are plenty of Leinenkugel brands, and overall there are 30 beers on tap — Flying Dog and Heavy Seas in the mix — and more than 50 bottles. (One complaint: Leinenkugel’s kitchen closes at 10 p.m., a habit many Baltimore bars are guilty of. Let’s put a moratorium on this, please.)

IF YOU GO - LEINENKUGEL’S one color PMS 541

though. When it’s raining, water seeps into the first half of the bar so that, while I was there, my table was sitting on a puddle of water. This might have been resolved by simply closing the exit to the outdoor area, a gravel patio with some benches overlooking a handsome fire pit.

Leinenkugel’s is not like beer gardens of the Old Country. It is sleek and ergonomic, with tables amply spaced, a lot of room by the bar and a comfortable, inviting outdoor area.

There are no oompah bands — R.E.M. and Alanis played over the speakers while I was there. And the staff doesn’t wear Oktoberfest gear — my bartender wore a dress shirt and khaki shorts. This is a concept bar done the Power Plant Live way. Much like PBR Baltimore, Leinenkugel’s is far from the original that inspired it. If you want kitsch and tradition, got to Blob’s Park in Jessup.

Leinenkugel’s beer selection is also on the revisionist side. If you’re looking for the breadth and quirks of the beer menu at Max’s, for instance, you won’t find it here.

What the menu does have is a considered mix of lagers

BACK STORY: Leinenkugel’s is part of Power Plant Live’s $10 million renovation, which also included the addition of a Joe Squared and the new country-western bar PBR Baltimore. In Wisconsin, the Leinenkugel’s brewery has a 144-year history; this is its first brick-and-mortar store.

PARKING: Metered parking is available on Pratt Street and by Power Plant; paid parking lots are all over the Inner Harbor.

WHERE: 34 Market Place, Power Plant Live CONTACT: 443-208-3316; http://www.leiniebeergarden.com

Lifestyle website high50 shared its top ps for Missouri travel, and naturally KC was at the top of the list, which suggests visitors book a room at the luxe Hotel Sorella and notes the city’s cultural highlights, including the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. The Chiefs, Royals and Sporrng KC all scored mennons (“Not surprisingly, KC is terrific for the sports aficionado,” according to the arrcle) as do local favorites Arthur Bryant’s, LC’s Bar-B-Q, Bluestem and Novel.

OPEN: 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday through Friday; noon-2 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

PRICE RANGE: Pints are $4-$8; my Fat Tire was $6.37. Food starts at $6 — for Belgian-style fries — to $20 for a Joe Squared Black Forest Pizza.

I

t’s the first day of the MLB season and at the stadium complex in South Philadelphia, fans are lining up 2 1/2 hours before game time to watch their beloved Phillies. That may not sound that unusual, except that the Phillies opened the season 300 miles west, in Pittsburgh.

However loud the crowd was that day at PNC Park, it’s hard to believe it could rival the cacophony inside the newly opened Xfinity Live!, a development from partners Comcast-Spectacor and Cordish Cos. that is a sports bar on acid, combining a 24-foot-wide Sony

For thirsty visitors, a tour of Boulevard Brewing Company and a taste of its generous samples are recommended along with a trip to West Boooms gem Amigoni Urban Winery. high-definition screen in its center with a variety of indoor and outdoor dining venues across a 60,000-square-foot site in the shadow of Philadelphia’s sports venues.

At Xfinity Live!, built on the site of the old Spectrum, an array of restaurants and bars will draw sports fans when teams are playing nearby at Citizens Bank Park, Lincoln Financial Field and the Wells Fargo Center, and also when they aren’t.

Built on the site of the demolished Spectrum, where the 76ers and

Kansas City also came in at No. 3 on Travel + Leisure’s list of America’s best ciies for food snobs. Although we’re known for barbecue, “the city is more than just burnt ends,” Travel + Leisure writes, poinnng out fine dining oppons Bluestem and The American as well as newcomer Cleaver & Cork.

Never to be outdone in the list department, BuzzFeed recently included Manifesto on its list, “19 Bars In America You Should Drink At Before You Die,” and KC appeared on the “29 Places All Twentysomethings Should Pick Up And Move To” list.

601 East Pratt St., 5th Floor Baltimore, MD 21202

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