KANSAS CITY: COME TO ENJOY

KANSAS CITY:

BY CONNIE WARDMAN Grab your comfy walking shoes because Kansas City (KC) is an amazing place to visit! It has always been an important city over the years and KC knows how to keep reinventing itself; staying current while keeping its rich history an integral part of the reinvention process.

A feast for the senses, you’ll hear wonderful sounds of live music, especially jazz; you’ll smell the tantalizing aroma of barbeque; you’ll see sights of historical importance like the Negro League Baseball Museum; you’ll be able to shop for wonderful goods from across the globe; and you’ll feel the warmth and friendliness of midwestern hospitality. Kansas City truly represents the Heart of America. You’ve “Come to Play,” something KC knows all about. It’s home to the KC Royals (MLB), KC Chiefs (NFL) and Sporting KC (MLS) as well as basketball, hockey and rugby teams. On their Wednesday, September 4 game against the Detroit Tigers, the Royals are holding their first official Pride Night and a portion of each Pride Night theme ticket purchase will be donated to the AIDS Service Foundation of Kansas City.

A big draw for sports fans is the Negro League Baseball Museum (NLBM). Its multimedia displays, collections of photos and artifacts plus film exhibits from the late 1800s through the 1960s reveal the important, often unknown story of Negro Leagues Baseball. Currently the museum is preparing for its 100th birthday celebration in 2020.

While you’re there, check out the American Jazz Museum that shares a building with the NLBM in the historic 18th & Vine Jazz District. Learn about the birth of jazz in KC through interactive exhibits that include listening stations and custom mixing boards as well as collections of photographs, sheet music and posters from the height of jazz's popularity.

With over 100 barbeque restaurants, you have your pick of places to try. And don’t forget to take in some local breweries to wash down that savory succulence. KC also has become a real hub for foodies coming for dishes that are both local favorites and modern takes on some classic ones by some award-winning chefs.

There’s quite an eclectic art scene in KC. The NelsonAtkins Museum of

Art (known for giant shuttlecocks on

the front lawn) is regarded as one of the best museums in the country with a wide range of collections from ancient to contemporary. The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is just a short walk from the Nelson-Atkins.

And don’t miss the Westport Flea Market. Look for the Westport Flea Market Bar & Grill –you’ll see the burger-mobile parked out front. Bring some cash and order at the bar. Play some arcade games while you wait for one of the best cheeseburgers in KC. Other “don’t miss” places include City Market, Union Station, the National World War I Museum & Memorial and the historic yet modern Westside neighborhood.

There are so many more wonderful things to see and do in Kansas City but I’ve run out of room. I think you’ll just have come back again … and again!

NEIGHBORHOOD TOURISM DEVELOPMENT FUND

ALL NAGAAA PARTICIAPNTS TO KANSAS CITY!